Namibian rugby player, Gerhard Thirion, left the country this week to join his new teammates at Budowlani Lublin, a professional rugby club in the Ekstraliga league (Poland’s top tier).
Thirion, a hooker, joins the Polish team from the University of Namibia (UNAM) Rugby Club and also plays international rugby for the country’s senior national team, the Welwitschias.
Speaking to Confidente before his departure to Poland, Thirion said he was excited to finally play professional rugby, a lifelong dream.
Later this year, Namibia and other African countries will compete in the Rugby Africa Cup, the qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. With more Namibians playing worldwide, his move to Europe is timely.
He is expected to be included in the final list of players under new Welwitschias coach Chrysander Botha, recently appointed to lead the team, starting with the Rugby Africa Cup.
“They (Budowlani Lublin) saw me playing local rugby for my club UNAM and offered me a contract. It has been my dream to play in a professional setup, and this is a stepping stone in the right direction. Hopefully, playing in a professional setup will help me prepare well for the Rugby World Cup in 2027, in case we qualify again. I am very excited and committed to my goals,” said Thirion.
He signed a three-month contract with an option to extend it, depending on his performance and injury status during his stint at the club.
While the Polish league may not be as competitive as those in England, Ireland, Spain, Italy, or South Africa, for a Namibian player, this move is a significant opportunity.
His new team, Budowlani Lublin, currently sits sixth in the nine-team league, with 13 points from nine matches.
“This is the last leg of the season in Poland, so I will be here for three months, with an option to extend my contract should I meet the standards and remain injury-free,” said Thirion.