Namibia at the Rugby World Cup
Namibia has competed in seven Rugby World Cup tournaments, having qualified as the African representative. The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias after the Namibian national symbol, made their first appearance at the Rugby World Cup in 1999 and appeared at the following six tournaments. Namibia has so far played 26 games at that cup without ever winning one.[1]
Namibia's best match result was in 2015 when they lost to Georgia by a single point. Namibia's worst match result was in 2003 when they lost to Australia 0-142, which is the record of the biggest winning margin. So far Namibia has not hosted any World Cup games.
By position
Team | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | |
Namibia | — | — | — | 19th | 20th | 20th | 20th | 18th | 17th | 19th |
1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 52 | +56 | 9 |
Fiji | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 68 | +56 | 7 |
Canada | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 114 | 82 | +32 | 5 |
Namibia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 186 | −144 | 3 |
14 October 1999 |
Stade de Toulouse )Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia |
2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 32 | +241 | 2 | 18 | Quarter-finals |
Ireland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 141 | 56 | +85 | 3 | 15 | |
Argentina | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 140 | 57 | +83 | 3 | 11 | |
Romania | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 192 | −127 | 1 | 5 | |
Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 310 | −282 | 0 | 0 |
14 October 2003 |
) |
19 October 2003 |
Ireland | 64–7 | Namibia |
Try: Quinlan (2) Dempsey Hickie Horan Miller (2) G. Easterby S. Horgan Kelly Con: O'Gara (7) | Try: Powell Con: Wessels |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 35,382 Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia) |
30 October 2003 |
) |
2007 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Argentina | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 33 | +110 | 2 | 18 | Qualified for the quarter-finals |
2 | France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 188 | 37 | +151 | 3 | 15 | |
3 | Ireland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 64 | 82 | −18 | 1 | 9 | Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011 |
4 | Georgia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 111 | −61 | 1 | 5 | |
5 | Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 212 | −182 | 0 | 0 |
9 September 2007 20:00 |
Ireland | 32–17 | Namibia |
Try: O'Driscoll 5' c Trimble 19' m Easterby 30' m Penalty try 49' c Flannery 76' m Con: O'Gara (2/5) Pen: O'Gara (1/1) 17' | Report | Try: Nieuwenhuis 60' c Van Zyl 64' c Con: Wessels (2/2) Pen: Wessels (1/2) 40+' |
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 33,694 Referee: Joël Jutge (France) |
16 September 2007 21:00 |
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 35,339 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
22 September 2007 21:00 |
Australia ) |
26 September 2007 18:00 |
New Zealand ) |
2011 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South Africa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 24 | +142 | 21 | 2 | 18 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup |
2 | Wales | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 180 | 34 | +146 | 23 | 3 | 15 | |
3 | Samoa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 49 | +42 | 9 | 2 | 10 | Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup |
4 | Fiji | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 59 | 167 | −108 | 7 | 1 | 5 | |
5 | Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 266 | −222 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
10 September 2011 15:30 |
Fiji | 49–25 | Namibia |
Try: Goneva (4) 6' c, 20' m, 40+' c, 51' c Nakarawa 18' c Nalaga 77' c Con: Bai (5/6) Pen: Bai (3/3) 17', 24', 75' | Report | Try: Koll 43' m Botha 56' m Pen: Kotzé (2/3) 4', 37' Drop: Kotzé (3/3) 11', 13', 15' |
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 10,100 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
14 September 2011 14:30 |
Samoa | 49–12 | Namibia |
Try: Fotuali'i 1' c Tuilagi (3) 17' c, 35' m, 55' c Williams 59' c Penalty try 70' c Con: T. Pisi (2/2) Williams (2/3) Pen: T. Pisi (2/2) 10', 24' Williams (1/1) 53' | Report | Try: van Wyk 63' m Kotzé 79' c Con: Kotzé (1/2) |
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 12,752 Referee: Romain Poite (France) |
22 September 2011 20:00 |
George Clancy (Ireland ) |
26 September 2011 19:30 |
Australia ) |
2015 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 49 | +125 | 25 | 3 | 19 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup |
2 | Argentina | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 70 | +109 | 22 | 3 | 15 | |
3 | Georgia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 123 | −70 | 5 | 0 | 8 | Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup |
4 | Tonga | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 130 | −60 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |
5 | Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 | 174 | −104 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
24 September 2015 20:00 |
) |
29 September 2015 16:45 |
New Zealand ) |
7 October 2015 20:00 |
Namibia | 16–17 | Georgia |
Try: Kotzé 74' c Con: Kotzé (1/1) 76' Pen: Kotzé (3/3) 2', 18', 71' | Report | Try: Gorgodze 50' c Malaghuradze 55' c Con: Kvirikashvili (2/2) 51', 56' Pen: Kvirikashvili (1/1) 68' |
Sandy Park, Exeter Attendance: 11,156 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) |
11 October 2015 12:00 |
) |
2019 Rugby World Cup (Pool B)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 157 | 22 | +135 | 22 | 2 | 16 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup |
2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 185 | 36 | +149 | 27 | 3 | 15 | |
3 | Italy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 78 | +20 | 14 | 2 | 12 | Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup |
4 | Namibia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 175 | −141 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |
5 | Canada | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 177 | −163 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
22 September 2019 14:15 |
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Attendance: 20,354 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
28 September 2019 18:45 UTC+09) |
(1 BP) South Africa | 57–3 | Namibia |
Try: Mbonambi (2) 10' c, 17' c Louw 15' m Mapimpi (2) 27' m, 54' c Am 42' c Gelant 48' c Kolisi 59' m Brits 64' c Con: E. Jantjies (6/9) 11', 19', 43', 50', 55', 66' | Report | Pen: Loubser (1/2) 24' |
City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota Attendance: 36,449 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
6 October 2019 13:45 ) |
13 October 2019 12:15 Paul Williams (New Zealand ) |
Notes:
- Despite both teams naming their sides, this match was cancelled following an evacuation order in Kamaishi during Typhoon Hagibis and awarded as a 0–0 draw.[2]
2023 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | France (H) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 32 | +178 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 18 | Advance to knockout stage, and qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup |
2 | New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 253 | 47 | +206 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 15 | |
3 | Italy | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 114 | 181 | −67 | 15 | 25 | 2 | 10 | Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup |
4 | Uruguay | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 164 | −99 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 5 | |
5 | Namibia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 255 | −218 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
9 September 2023 13:00 UTC+2) |
(1 BP) Italy | 52–8 | Namibia |
Try: L. Cannone 11' c P. Garbisi 15' c Lamb 46' c Capuozzo 55' c Faiva 74' c Zuliani 78' c Odogwu 80+3' c Con: Allan (7/7) 12', 16', 48', 57', 75', 79', 80+4' Pen: Allan (1/1) 8' | Report | Try: Mouton 21' m Pen: Swanepoel (1/2) 4' |
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 35,515 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)[3] |
15 September 2023 21:00 UTC+2) |
(1 BP) New Zealand | 71–3 | Namibia |
Try: Roigard (2) 2' c, 7' m McKenzie (2) 20' c, 39' c Fainga'anuku 25' m Lienert-Brown 35' c De Groot 49' m Papalii 55' c Havili 58' c Clarke 67' c Ioane 77' c Con: McKenzie (8/11) 3', 20', 36', 40', 55', 59', 68', 78' | Report | Pen: Swanepoel (1/1) 11' |
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 31,996 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)[3] |
21 September 2023 21:00 UTC+2) |
(1 BP) France | 96–0 | Namibia |
Try: Penaud (3) 6' m, 21' c, 55' c Danty (2) 9' c, 26' c Ollivon (2) 18' c, 68' c Flament 33' c Dupont 38' c Bielle-Biarrey (2) 40+1' c, 64' c Couilloud 47' c Jaminet 76' c Penalty try 80' Con: Ramos (12/13) 10', 18', 22', 27', 34', 39', 40+2', 48', 56', 65', 70', 77' | Report |
Stade de Marseille, Marseille Attendance: 63,486 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)[3] |
27 September 2023 17:45 UTC+2) |
(1 BP) Uruguay | 36–26 | Namibia |
Try: Amaya (2) 19' m, 49' c Kessler 28' c Arata 54' c Basso 66' c Con: Etcheverry (3/4) 29', 51', 55' Berchesi (1/1) 67' Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 74' | Report | Try: Mouton 1' c Greyling 11' c Con: Swanepoel (2/2) 2', 12' Pen: Swanepoel (4/4) 25', 35', 43', 69' |
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu Attendance: 49,342 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)[3] |
Overall record
Up to date as of 2023 World Cup
Namibia vs | Played | Win | Draw | Lost | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Canada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Fiji | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
Georgia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
Ireland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
Italy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Samoa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
Tonga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Wales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Overall | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0% |
Notes:
- The table above excludes the awarded 0–0 draw against Canada during the Typhoon Hagibis.
Team records
Most points in a game
Biggest winning margin
- Never won a match.
Most tries in a game
- 3 vs Tonga (2015)
- 3 vs Argentina (2015)
- 3 vs Italy (2019)
- 2 vs Fiji (1999)
- 2 vs Argentina (2003)
- 2 vs Ireland (2007)
- 2 vs Fiji (2011)
- 2 vs Samoa (2011)
- 2 vs Uruguay (2011)
Highest score against
- 142 vs Australia (2003)
- 96 vs France (2023)
- 87 vs France (2007)
- 87 vs South Africa (2011)
- 81 vs Wales (2011)
Biggest losing margin
- 142 vs Australia (2003)
- 96 vs France (2023)
- 87 vs South Africa (2011)
- 77 vs France (2007)
- 74 vs Wales (2011)
Most tries against
- 22 vs Australia (2003)
- 14 vs France (2023)
- 13 vs France (2007)
- 12 vs South Africa (2011)
- 12 vs Wales (2011)
Individual records
Most appearances overall
- 14 Eugene Jantjies
- 12 PJ van Lill
- 11 Jacques Burger
- 11 Aranos Coetzee
- 11 Tinus du Plessis
- 11 Hugo Horn
- 11 Johnny Redelinghuys
Most points overall
- 59 Theuns Kotzé
- 22 Tiaan Swanepoel
- 22 Leandre van Dyk
- 18 Emile Wessels
- 15 JC Greyling
Most points in a match
- 16 Theuns Kotzé vs Georgia (2015)
- 16 Tiaan Swanepoel vs Uruguay (2023)
- 15 Theuns Kotzé vs Fiji (2011)
- 10 Jacques Burger vs Tonga (2015)
- 9 Theuns Kotzé vs New Zealand (2015)
- 9 Damian Stevens vs New Zealand (2019)
Most tries overall
- 3 JC Greyling
- 2 Jacques Burger
- 2 Heinz Koll
- 2 Theuns Kotzé
- 2 Gerswin Mouton
- 2 Johann Tromp
Most penalty goals overall
- 8 Theuns Kotzé
- 6 Tiaan Swanepoel
- 6 Leandre van Dyk
- 3 Damian Stevens
- 2 Cliven Loubser
- 1 Morné Schreuder
- 1 Emile Wessels
References
- ^ Meagher, Gerard (18 September 2015). "Rugby World Cup 2015 power rankings: New Zealand on top at kick-off". The Guardian sport blog.
- ^ "NAMIBIA V CANADA MATCH CANCELLED". Rugby World Cup. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
- ISBN 0-642-36811-2)