Cape Town - Namibian lock Tjiuee Uanivi has his sights set on a contract with South African Super Rugby franchise, the Sharks.
Uanivi, who was one on Namibia’s stars at the recent Rugby World Cup in England, was spotted at Sharks training sessions during the past week.
Uanivi, 24, was not listed in a recent Super Rugby training squad announced by the Sharks, but according to Namibian newspaper, Republikein, this was due to technicalities regarding a deal with the Sharks.
He recently played for French club Brive.
Uanivi will be one of three Namibians in the Sharks squad, with centre Johan Deysel and loose forward Renaldo Bothma also on the Sharks’ books.
Bothma though is currently playing club rugby in Japan with Toyota Verblitz, but will return to play Super Rugby next year.
Sharks provisional training squad:
Forwards: Aaron Schramm, Barend Potgieter, Christiaan de Bruin, Coenie Oosthuizen, Dale Chadwick, David McDuling, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Francois Kleinhans, Gerhard Engelbrecht, Hyron Andrews, Jean Deysel, Kyle Cooper, Beast Mtawarira, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Monde Hadebe, Mzamo Majola, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Sias Koen, Thomas du Toit.
Backs: André
Esterhuizen, Cobus Reinach, Garth April, Heimar Williams, Innocent
Radebe, Joe Pietersen, Johan Deysel, Lukhanyo Am, Lwazi Mvovo, Marius
Louw, Michael Claassens, Odwa Ndungane, Pat Lambie, Paul
Jordaan, Sibusiso Nkosi, S’bura Sithole, Stefan Ungerer, Wandile
Mjekevu.
Players undergoing rehab: Beast
Mtawarira, Conrad Hoffmann, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Juan
Schoeman, Khaya Majola, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Tera Mtembu.
Players released: Jaco van Tonder, JC Astle, Lionel Cronje, Marco Wentzel, Waylon Murray, Wiehan Hay.
Players currently in Japan: Marcell Coetzee, Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jacques Potgieter and Renaldo Bothma