• Rugby

All the worthy contenders for Ongos Sevens title

• 2 Days Ago 03 October 2024

The stage is set for a thrilling final round of the Ongos Valley Sevens, as the top rugby clubs from across Namibia converge to compete in the shortened format at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.

Following some exciting match-ups in the two previous rounds at Keetmanshoop and Swakopmund, where dream teams for the Kharas and Erongo regions were selected, the battle for supremacy will culminate with the series’ showpiece tournament.

The final round promises to be a spectacle of skill, speed and teamwork, with each of the nine NRU premier league clubs gunning for the ultimate prize against the two regional dream teams.

The fixtures schedule is packed with back-to-back bangers, ensuring a thrilling day of rugby for fans and spectators.

The first match kicks off at 09:20 with Wanderers returning to action after their 15-a-side NRU premier league final triumph (45-20) against Unam on 14 September. The White Stallions should once again boast a talented 12-player squad when they face Western Suburbs in the tournament opener.

Match 2 following at 09:40 will pit derby contestants Rehoboth vs Reho Falcon.

After United vs Dolphin at 10:00, the regional dream team selections will open their campaigns against each other at 10:20.

Another strong and determined contender will be Unam, who saw off the challenge of five other premier league clubs last weekend on their way to retaining their Day of the Dolphin title at Swakopmund. The red-and-yellow student team’s first opponent will be Grootfontein, whom they eliminated in the NRU 15s premier league semi-final last month.

The group stages will see fierce competition as each team battles to advance to the knockout stages.

After the completion of round-robin matches, the top four teams on the combined log will progress to the semi-finals based on their winning percentage (due to the uneven totals of five and six team in each pool).

The coveted inaugural Ongos Valley Sevens trophy and bragging rights will doubtlessly be celebrated by the nation’s best sevens rugby team of 2024.



The seeding

Group A: Western Suburbs / Wanderers / Rehoboth / Reho Falcon / Kharas All Stars / Erongo All Stars.

Group B: United / Unam / Kudus / Grootfontein / Dolphin.



Sport Wrap Sprint adds extra excitement

As if the rugby action wasn’t enough, spectators will be treated to an extra special dose of excitement during the scheduled breaks with the Sport Wrap Sprint Competition.

A sprint challenge from goal-line to goal-line will determine the inaugural holder of the title as “fastest man in Namibian men’s club rugby”.

Each of the eleven teams will nominate two players, bringing the total to 22 runners. The competition will start off with two semi-final rounds with eleven runners each, from where the top four from each race will advance to the later final showdown.

The overall winner of the final race will not only take home bragging rights, but also a floating trophy and a cash prize of N$3 000.

“The sprint competition adds another thrilling element to the day’s events and gives our players a chance to showcase their speed and agility in front of the fans,” said Sport Wrap coordinator Brian Munango.

“Since we shared the idea with organisers and the participating clubs, suspense and excitement have been building up as the names of the well-known speedsters from each club get mentioned in discussions about how they would match up.

“We can’t wait to see who will be crowned the fastest runner!”

This event will be the first of its kind in Namibia and will be part of Network Television (NTV)'s live broadcast of the Ongos Valley Sevens tournament.