World Cup hopefuls lose head coach on eve of qualification campaign

Namibia’s hopes of making it to an eighth straight Rugby World Cup have been dealt a blow with the loss of head coach Chrysander Botha on the eve of the Rugby Africa Cup qualifiers.

Botha, the former Namibian full-back, has decided to stand down due to increased work commitments just seven months into the role.

Weltwitschias legend, Jacques Burger, who became Namibia’s Director of Rugby last November after the departure of Alister Coetzee, will now take on the responsibilities of head coach.

“Being a part-time coach, it is important that he puts bread on the table. He’s done great things for us and we wish him all the best. But obviously he has to make the right decision for him and his family, so we’ll support him all the way,” said Burger, the former Namibia captain, when asked about Botha’s sudden exit.

To offset the loss of Botha, who played professionally in England with Exeter Chiefs, Burger has brought a fellow three-time World Cup participant into the coaching group, former centre Darryl de la Harpe, as skills coach.

He joins Jaco Engels, Rohan Kitshoff, and David Philander in assisting Burger, while Sergio de la Harpe is in charge of strength and conditioning.

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The Welwitschias, who have competed in every World Cup tournament since their debut in 1999, face a battle from the likes of Zimbabwe and Kenya to make it to Australia in 2027.

The winner of the Africa Cup, which Uganda is hosting, will automatically qualify. The runner-up will progress to the Asia/Africa play-off.

Namibia relinquished their grip on the Africa Cup last year, after holding it since 2013. Zimbabwe won the tournament after beating Namibia in the semi-finals and Algeria in the final.

The Wetwitschias haven’t played a Test since winning the bronze medal match against Kenya last July, but did play Uganda in a warm-up match last weekend, scraping home 22-19 against a side ranked 16 places below them, thanks to Danco Burger’s penalty in the dying seconds.

Preparations for Namibia’s Rugby Africa quarter-final match against Senegal, on 8 July, will step up next weekend when they host Italy in Windhoek.