Namibia return to SA competition

A Namibian team will compete in next year's Vodacom Cup competition, it was announced on Wednesday.

Playing as the Welwitschias, Namibia competed in SA's second-tier domestic competition on five previous occasions – 1999 to 2001, as well as 2010 and 2011.

Namibian Rugby Union President Bradley Basson said the South African Rugby Union agreed to their request to be included in the 16-team competition in 2015.

"It is the best thing that could have happened to Namibia in our build-up towards the World Cup," Basson said in a statement.

"We have a number of locally based players who are not exposed to high level rugby and they will benefit from this."

The final fixtures would be ratified by the SARU executive council next month.

Basson said there were strong indications that Namibia would be allowed to play all eight their matches in Windhoek.

"The other good thing is that SARU has convinced teams to play all the games against us in Windhoek," Basson said.

"So our players, who are all amateurs, can continue to do their jobs, train in the mornings and evenings and be ready for the match over the weekend.

"It will also save the NRU a lot of expenses and at this stage. We really do have to look at our finances as we will need a lot of resources to prepare for the World Cup."

Basson said Namibia's involvement with the competition will help with the players' conditioning as they will be exposed to high intensity rugby.

"They will be much better prepared for the Tests we plan in June in the Confederation of African Rugby competitions as well as World Rugby's Nations Cup and, of course, for the World Cup in September," he said.

The NRU President said the inclusion of Namibia in the Vodacom Cup competition was a result of a very strong relationship with SARU.

"They remain our big brother and we are immensely grateful to SARU and the teams who have agreed to travel to Windhoek," he said.

"We promise them Namibian hospitality at its best."

According to the NRU President it will also present his union with the opportunity to generate interest in the Namibian team before they head off for the World Cup in England.

"That is one of the most important aspects, that we will be able to get the people of Namibia behind the team and to get spectators back to rugby."

The details of which group Namibia will be playing in, and against which teams as well as the final dates will be confirmed by SARU in December.

@rugby365com