Namibia Player Biographies

Pen pictures of the Namibian World Cup squad (ages correct at start of tournament):

RUDY JOUBERT (coach). The 37-year-old South African is highly regarded in Namibia after being seconded from SARFU to help with the country's qualification campaign. Took on the full coach's mantle in succession to Johan Venter who was sacked in mid-year after a disastrous Namibian campaign in a South African domestic competition. Joubert was technical adviser for the 1995 World Cup-winning Springboks, having linked up with coach Kitch Christie at Transvaal in 1992. He is the author of several South African rugby coaching manuals. Playing career was cut short by injury. Has degree in theology. Will take up two year coaching post with Boland after the World Cup.

LEAN VAN DYK. Fullback. Age: 23. Height: 1,90m. Weight: 86kg. Caps: 10. Occupation: Sales Representative. The young speedster has played in 10 tests and was also part of the Northern Free State provincial team in South Africa during the 1999 Vodacom Cup. An exciting runner with four test tries already.

DEON MOUTON. Fullback. Age: 23. 1.82m. 85kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Merchandiser. Mouton has only played one test and has yet to prove himself. He has a passion for soccer and is a supporter of Manchester United.

GLOVIN VAN WYK. Fullback. Age: 25. 1.79m. 78kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Computer Technician. He has only played one test for Namibia scoring two tries on his debut. Was named player of the year at the Unam Rugby Club in 1997 and 1998. Has also represented his club at athletics and soccer.

DIRK FARMER. Wing. Age: 25. 1.82m. 88kg. Caps: 10. Occupation: Clerk. Farmer, who actually works in his town council, has played in 10 tests for the Namibians and is well known among team mates for enjoying the social side of rugby.

ARTHUR SAMUELSON. Wing. Age: 25. 1.87m. 83kg. Caps: 14. Occupation: National Buyer. Played cricket for the Namibian under-19 team in 1991 and was a key member of the victorious TSV Victoria Linden club in Hanover Germany as they took the national title in 1996.

RUDIE JANSEN VAN VUUREN. Centre/Fullback/Flyhalf. Age: 26. 1.89m. 95kg. Caps: Six. Occupation: Medical Doctor. This versatile all-rounder is a doctor by profession and has also played cricket for Namibia. Has scored 53 test points in his six internationals including one try.

LUKAS HOLTZHAUSEN. Centre. Age: 26. 1.78m. 86kg. Caps: Eight. Occupation: Catering manager. The barreling centre is a powerful tackler and hard runner with the ball. He is a keen cook and employed in the catering profession. Very popular with his team mates due to his connections in the food industry.

'ROCK' CLIFF LOUBSHER. Centre. Age: 26. 1.78m. 87kg. Uncapped. Occupation: Technician. An all-round sportsman who has played representative volleyball, soccer and table tennis. He is known as 'Rock' because of his name and because of his stout defence.

FRANCOIS VAN RENSBURG. Centre, Flyhalf. Age: 25. 1.82m. 90kg. Caps: 19. Occupation: Farmer. One of the more experienced members of the squad he has played a total of 65 games for Namibia including 16 in the 1995 Currie Cup when the team took part. Has also played extensive sevens rugby for the country and has been vice-captain on seven occasions.

JOHAN ZAAYMAN. Flyhalf. Age: 26. 1.86m. 90kg. Caps: 10. Occupation: Collection Representative. Zaayman has been the regular first choice flyhalf and has extensive experience at sevens rugby for Namibia having played in the World Cup Sevens in 1997 and the Air France Sevens in 1996. Teammates are all careful to repay debts on time.

RONALDO PEDRO. Scrumhalf. Age: 27. 1.78m. 75kg. Caps: Four. Occupation: Environmental Health Assistant. The diminutive but tough man of Portuguese extraction has recently broken into the test squad having played for Namibia B. Pedro is also a noted athlete having earned representative colours over the middle distances.

RIAAN JANTJIES. Scrumhalf. Age: 34. 1.54m. 65kg. Caps: 12. Occupation: Supervisor. Jantjies is the smallest man in the Namibian side and might possibly be the smallest at the World Cup. He has represented Namibia at every level of the game and is one of the longest-serving players in the current squad. His slight build belies a tough approach to the game - and he is famously difficult to tackle.

SAREL JANSEN VAN RENSBURG. Scrumhalf. Age: 22. 1.78m. 76kg. Caps: Five. Occupation: Sales Representative. The 22-year-old scrumhalf might be small in frame but he has represented his country in wrestling and is also a provincial selection for rifle and pistol shooting. A solid all-round performer.

SYBRAND DE BEER. Number eight. Age: 24. 1.86m. 108kg. Caps: Eight. Occupation: Information Technology Consultant. This computer whizzkid who is employed in the IT industry does not fit the stereotype of the computer nerd as he throws his powerful frame into tackles on the field. He has scored two tries in test rugby and is a strong candidate for first choice selection..

MATTHYS VAN ROOYEN. Number eight/flanker. Age: 27. 1.85m. 103kg. Caps: Eight. Occupation: Manager. The versatile loose forward forced his way into the squad with some splendid displays in the World Cup qualifiers. Van Rooyen is employed in the tyre industry and is hoping to leave his tracks on the tournament.

JACO OLIVIER. Flank. Age: 24. 1.90m. 102kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Butcher. Although he has only played one test, Olivier was part of the Hong Kong and World Cup sevens squads in 1997. Not a regular choice for the starting lineup, but he is pacey and possesses the ball skills of a backline player.

SCHALKE VAN DER MERWE. Flanker/Centre. Age: 25. 1.82m. 90kg. Caps: Eight. Occupation: Farmer. Van der Merwe is a classic example of the modern day forward who can play in the backline as he has represented the national team at both flank and centre. Also a veteran of the Hong Kong sevens in 1997.

QUINN HOUGH (captain). Flanker. Age: 26. 1.86m. 100kg. Caps: 12. Occupation: Farmer. The brawny farmer is an impressive loose forward and was one of the pillars during Namibia's 1999 Vodacom Cup campaign. He will relish the conditions in France and will lead Namibia in the tournament.

SEAN FURTER. Number eight. Age: 22. 1.90m. 94kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Sales Consultant. The German descendent has only played once for Namibia, but his natural flair and ball skills make up for his relatively small build as a loose forward..

HERMAN LINTVELT. Flanker. Age: 23. 1.91m. 100kg. Caps: Three. Occupation: Stock Controller. Another of the Namibian players who has represented a German club when he played overseas in 1997. He has come through all the representative teams having earned national schools and under-21 colours.

HEINO SENEKAL. Lock. Age: 23. 1.98m. 114kg. Caps: Three. Occupation: Student. The university student is an imposing figure on the field with his immense frame. He is another of the all-round sportsmen in the team with a keen interest in golf, fishing and chess. His father played 101 matches for Namibia.

EBEN IZAACS. Lock. Age: 29. 1.91m. 101kg. Caps: Six. Occupation: D.E. Passer. Izaacs has only played six tests but has already scored three tries, which coming from a lock is not a bad return in any terms. Not very tall for a modern day lock, the 29-year-old is a natural athlete.

PIETER STEYN. Lock. Age: 25. 2.00m. 114kg. Caps: 13. Occupation: Farmer. The biggest squad member and one of the most experienced with 13 caps to his name, Steyn has scored four tries in test rugby..

JOHANNES THERON. Lock. Age: 20. 1.97m. 110kg. Caps: Three. Occupation: Student. The 20-year-old is the youngest member of the team and has played for the Blue Bulls under-21s while studying architecture in Pretoria. A man with an artistic touch he is keen on drawing and sketching and is also a literary buff.

GERHARD OPPERMAN. Prop. Age: 31. 1.67m. 100kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Security. Opperman's sculptured frame has seen him represent Namibia at the 1994 World Bodybuilding championships. The powerfully built security guard has only played one test but will be hoping to add to that at the tournament.

MARIO JACOBS. Prop. Age: 27. 1.82m. 104kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Operations Manager. Jacobs is another of the inexperienced Namibian props. He has worked his way through the ranks from national schoolboy representation to the under-21s and on to the national team. Wine collection is the 27-year-old's preferred hobby so being based in France is a blessing he intends to capitalise on.

EBEN SMITH. Prop. Age: 28. 1.79m. 104kg. Caps: Five. Occupation: Building Contractor. Has a passion for horses - riding and breeding - and is also a fine all-round sportsman having represented South African province Free State at wrestling. A regular in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

ANDRIES BLAAUW. Prop. Age: 29. 1.74m. 116kg. Caps: 10. Occupation: Self-employed. This entrepreneur is the most experienced of all the Namibian props with 10 test caps to his name. He is the cornerstone of the Namibian pack playing in the crucial tighthead position.

HUGO HORN. Hooker. Age: 22. 1.81m. 105kg. Caps: Six. Occupation: Sales executive. Horn is a real talent. A tough and robust hooker this former schoolboy international has risen through the ranks to become one of the leading players in the Namibian squad at the age of 22. Made his test debut as a 20-year-old.

FRANS FISCH. Hooker. Age: 29. 1.87m. 100kg. Caps: One. Occupation: Metallurgy Operator. Very much the second choice hooker to Horn - hence his single cap. The 29-year-old miner is a tough customer and is relishing a chance at the World Cup.

Reuters contributed to this report.