Another WILD Rugby World Cup injury as spider bite rules star out

Jared Wright 27 Sep 2023 9:23 AM

Players of Namibia during the Rugby union World Cup RWC 2023, Pool A match between France and Namibia at Stade Velodrome, Marseille.

In a rather unfortunate turn of events, Namibia flanker Johan Retief has been ruled out of his side’s Rugby World Cup clash with Uruguay due to a spider bite.

The 2023 World Cup in France has seen several players have their tournament ended for various reasons, but this must be the oddest.

Spider bite

Scotland hooker Dave Cherry fell downstairs, which ruled him out of the World Cup, while his replacement Stuart McInally sustained an injury in training, as did the Springboks’ Malcolm Marx.

“Johan Retief is quite a weird one,” Namibia head coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday following the team announcement to play Uruguay.

“He has developed an abscess close to his pectoral area, which means the wound has been open.”

Coetzee’s explanation was quite cryptic, but the following day, the side’s backs coach, Chrysander Botha, was a bit more clear, as he seemingly confirmed that it was indeed a spider bite that ruled the back-row forward out.

“You can’t plan for something like that to happen, but we’ll miss him,” Botha said.

It’s a further blow for Namibia after captain Johan Deysel was handed a six-game suspension for his tackle on Antoine Dupont. The African side also lost centre Le Roux Malan to a horrific leg break in their clash against New Zealand.

Filling the gaps

Deysel is not only a leader for the team but a crucial defensive organiser. However, fellow centre Danco Burger believes that they will be able to cover for their skipper.

“Defence is going to be very important on the day,” Burger said.

“[Fellow centre] Alcino [Izaacs] is a very good communicator, so between us two and Cliven [Loubser] at the back, I think we have also bases covered.”

Meanwhile, Botha also said that the coaching staff were looking to have their freshest team out on the pitch for the game against Uruguay, but that hasn’t been the case.

“Our aim was always to get our freshest team on the pitch against Uruguay, a clear strategy,” he said.

“Obviously, a couple of set-backs with injury and a red card, but this is the best possible team we have available but, yeah, four games in 18 days – not easy.”

Internationals