NBL still backing World Cup campaign
ANDREW POOLMANWINDHOEK
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has received assurance of continued backing from its long-standing main sponsor ahead of Rugby Africa’s fast approaching men’s World Cup 2023 qualification tournament.At a press conference yesterday, Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) confirmed that it will provide financial backing to the national men’s rugby team until the end of next year.
NBL’s involvement will start with the Namibian squad selected to play the visiting Blue Bulls this Saturday in Windhoek. The local boys will compete as the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias.
The friendly encounter will serve to show the national coaching team, led by Allister Coetzee, locally based players worthy of contention, alongside the country’s foreign professionals playing in France, England, the United States and elsewhere.
Friendly matches lined up
NRU CEO John Heynes said the national training squad will be selected for a three-week training camp at Stellenbosch, which will include friendly matches against Western Province, the University of Stellenbosch and Italy-A.
From 1 to 10 July, Namibia will be one of eight African countries playing in France’s Marseilles area to contest Rugby Africa’s direct qualifier for next year’s World Cup, which will also be hosted in France. Namibia, still the highest ranked of the continental contenders, will play Burkina Faso on the first day, before the semi-final against the winner between Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast.
Should they advance to the final on 10 July, they are likely to meet Kenya. The champions will book a place in World Cup group A alongside hosts France (currently ranked second in the world), New Zealand (third), Italy (14th) and Uruguay (19th). The African runner-up will get another opportunity to qualify in a repêchage tournament.
Long-standing relationship
NBL’s acting global marketing manager Claudia Opperman and sponsorship manager Danie Keulder did not provide an estimated financial worth of the sponsorship, except to say the amount will be “in line with our other sponsorships at a national level”.
Opperman said: “NBL has built up a long-standing relationship with Namibian rugby under the Windhoek Draught brand and we want to commit to continue this relationship for the coming year. We want to make the training camp possible, as well as the qualifying tournament and of course the preparation for the 2023 World Cup.”
The NRU vice president for governance, Christie Windvogel, said the union is greatly honoured and grateful for NBL’s generosity. “It is sponsors like you that allow us to pursue our mission.”
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has received assurance of continued backing from its long-standing main sponsor ahead of Rugby Africa’s fast approaching men’s World Cup 2023 qualification tournament.At a press conference yesterday, Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) confirmed that it will provide financial backing to the national men’s rugby team until the end of next year.
NBL’s involvement will start with the Namibian squad selected to play the visiting Blue Bulls this Saturday in Windhoek. The local boys will compete as the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias.
The friendly encounter will serve to show the national coaching team, led by Allister Coetzee, locally based players worthy of contention, alongside the country’s foreign professionals playing in France, England, the United States and elsewhere.
Friendly matches lined up
NRU CEO John Heynes said the national training squad will be selected for a three-week training camp at Stellenbosch, which will include friendly matches against Western Province, the University of Stellenbosch and Italy-A.
From 1 to 10 July, Namibia will be one of eight African countries playing in France’s Marseilles area to contest Rugby Africa’s direct qualifier for next year’s World Cup, which will also be hosted in France. Namibia, still the highest ranked of the continental contenders, will play Burkina Faso on the first day, before the semi-final against the winner between Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast.
Should they advance to the final on 10 July, they are likely to meet Kenya. The champions will book a place in World Cup group A alongside hosts France (currently ranked second in the world), New Zealand (third), Italy (14th) and Uruguay (19th). The African runner-up will get another opportunity to qualify in a repêchage tournament.
Long-standing relationship
NBL’s acting global marketing manager Claudia Opperman and sponsorship manager Danie Keulder did not provide an estimated financial worth of the sponsorship, except to say the amount will be “in line with our other sponsorships at a national level”.
Opperman said: “NBL has built up a long-standing relationship with Namibian rugby under the Windhoek Draught brand and we want to commit to continue this relationship for the coming year. We want to make the training camp possible, as well as the qualifying tournament and of course the preparation for the 2023 World Cup.”
The NRU vice president for governance, Christie Windvogel, said the union is greatly honoured and grateful for NBL’s generosity. “It is sponsors like you that allow us to pursue our mission.”
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