Looking at Namibian rugby, I see it as a sport to be proud of, whether as player, spectator or just as rugby enthusiast. But what is being done to allow Namibia to play a higher level of rugby?
Rugby fans know that winning against Zambia does not provide us with a benchmark. If we win this weekend against Romania it ups the stakes considerably, but it is still not a provincial South African team, where the serious rugby is played in our region.

It is the third consecutive year that the Biltongboere qualify for the Rugby World Cup, the third biggest sporting event in the world, but is the team prepared to take on the likes of France or Ireland? Personally I don't think so and whether we like it or not, it all comes down to financial input as everything needs money to develop.
Asking any sport enthusiast what they think of Namibia winning the World Cup, the first response is always Aagh!, they will never win a Rugby World Cup! Not true! If the governing body of rugby looks at better ways to develop the game from a grassroots level, then why can we not be a contender for the Webb Ellis trophy?
Looking at ways of achieving this, it is obvious that it starts at school level, not only with the players but also with the trainers and referees. The whole pyramid needs to have its level raised but from the foundation upwards. Setting up rugby academies in the towns is a first step in taking the expertise of the bigger clubs to the level where it matters.
The next step is to develop professional players and professional sport administrators. For this one needs money again, but the funding will depend on the results. If the base is no good and the administration is no good, then funding will remain a problem.
Asking around among many rugby supporters, the fingers invariably point to the sport's administrators. "If the Namibia Rugby Union is more wake-up and thorough in the running of leagues and fund allocation, then it will go a long way to help solve the problem," a supporter recently told me.