Johan Venter is new national rugby coach

THE Namibia Rugby Union has announced that Johan Venter will now be the coach of the national side and will be required to take the side through the qualifying rounds leading to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Venter, a well-known figure in local rugby circles, will be aided by Hakkie Louw and Jakkals Pretorius as assistant coaches. Venter fills the position left vacant when Christo Alexander took on the role of chief administrator at the NRU head office.Venter’s first assignment is to lead the Namibian side in two friendly matches against South African-based Southern Spears on March 25 and 31.The visitors are a franchise and will possibly be included in the Super 14 tournament that features provincial teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.Namibian rugby has been mired in controversy for most of last year, with the executive committee members being accused of running the game unprofessionally.The most obvious case was when the NRU expelled United Rugby Club from all rugby activities in the country after the team decided to withhold its players from national team trials.On top of that, the NRU was under investigation by the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) for alleged financial mismanagement, while the competence of its leaders was questioned and reports of racism surfaced.The investigations have since been concluded and the rugby bosses and club owners have pledged to take the game to a different level this year.Venter fills the position left vacant when Christo Alexander took on the role of chief administrator at the NRU head office.Venter’s first assignment is to lead the Namibian side in two friendly matches against South African-based Southern Spears on March 25 and 31.The visitors are a franchise and will possibly be included in the Super 14 tournament that features provincial teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.Namibian rugby has been mired in controversy for most of last year, with the executive committee members being accused of running the game unprofessionally.The most obvious case was when the NRU expelled United Rugby Club from all rugby activities in the country after the team decided to withhold its players from national team trials.On top of that, the NRU was under investigation by the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) for alleged financial mismanagement, while the competence of its leaders was questioned and reports of racism surfaced.The investigations have since been concluded and the rugby bosses and club owners have pledged to take the game to a different level this year.