The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has secured a significant sponsorship deal worth N$3 million from Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) to support various programs and strengthen the foundation of rugby in the country.

This partnership comes ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, highlighting NBL's commitment to nurturing talent and building a competitive national team.

The official announcement was made at the NRU headquarters at the Dr. Hage Geingob Stadium. Representatives from both organizations were present, with John Heynes (CEO) and Johann Diergaardt (Vice President) accepting the news on behalf of the NRU.

Namibia Breweries Limited was represented by Daniel Keulder (Manager of Consumer Connections) and Tasneem Klazen (Marketing Manager).

The N$3 million sponsorship will be allocated to various initiatives crucial for the development of Namibian rugby.

Key programs benefiting from this investment include the Domestic League, Regional 15s tournaments, U20 Barthes Trophy participation, the NRU Hosting Budget, contributions to referees' costs, the annual NRU gathering, and the Club Forum Meeting.

Tasneem Klazen, Marketing Manager at NBL, explained the company's sponsorship objectives:

“The Namibian Breweries Limited is a sponsor of the Namibian Rugby Union to continue to prioritize the comprehensive growth of rugby from nurturing talent from the under-20 level, hosting club regionals, hosting club rugby, doing regionals leagues, and everything that my colleagues have mentioned. Our aim is simple: we want to build a strong national team that can compete at a high level at the Rugby World Cup. The sponsorship shows our commitment to helping young Namibian rugby players shine and represent our country proudly. We are committed to supporting Rugby Namibia and through smart investment and teamwork, our sponsorship aims to support a strong and lasting rugby community by helping young players support local clubs, doing all regional leagues that we mentioned, and encouraging the culture of excellence. We really want to create a national team that Namibia can be proud of,” he said.

The focus extends beyond just the national team. Vice President Johan Diergaardt emphasized the impact on grassroots development:

“We extend our sincerest appreciation to Namibia Breweries Limited for their unwavering support and commitment to the growth and development of rugby in Namibia. We look forward to a fruitful partnership and the realization of our shared vision for the future of rugby in our country,” Diergaardt said.

The investment in NRU will help develop young talent, strengthen local clubs and leagues. This aims to build a stronger national team for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and boost Namibia's Rugby scene.