Ex-player Eben Izaacs dies at 54

Rugby
Andrew Poolman
  • 14 Hours Ago
Namibian rugby lost a popular ex-national player and fierce supporter on Friday night as Eben Izaacs succumbed to a battle against cancer at the age of 54.

Izaacs became one of Namibia’s first set of three father-and-son combinations when his son Alcino Izaacs was selected in the squad to France 2023, joining Cliff and Cliven Loubser, as well as Deon and Gerswin Mouton.

Izaacs, who went to high school at Dr Lemmer in Rehoboth, made his test debut as a wing against Kenya in Nairobi in July 1993, under Henning Snyman as head coach. He was also in the touring squad to Morocco the next year as Namibia attempted to qualify for its first World Cup, but failed to reach South Africa 1995 in a shock loss to Ivory Coast.

By 1998, Izaacs had moved to lock and was selected by coach Johan Venter for the continental qualifiers in Morocco, where Namibia succeeded in winning and booking their spot to France 1999. Izaacs was a member of both Namibia’s debut World Cup tournament appearance, as well as four years later at Australia 2003.

Izaacs scored Namibia’s only try in their 7-37 loss to Romania in their last pool match of the 2003 tournament, played in Launceston, Tasmania.

The lock forward was among his club Reho Falcon’s representatives at the country’s first Rugby World Cup, along with Ronaldo Pedro, Cliff Loubser, Deon Mouton, the late Frans Fisch and the late Glovin van Wyk. Izaacs also played club rugby for the former TransNamib club in Windhoek.

Following his playing career, he also ploughed back as head coach of Dolphin Rugby Club in Swakopmund for a few seasons, investing his calm presence and sense of discipline into the next generation.

A moment of silence in Izaacs’ memory was held before the kick-off of the Welwitschias vs Airlink Pumas match at Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.