Namibia at the Rugby World Cup

Map of countries' best results
2023 Rugby World Cup match between New Zealand (All Blacks) and Namibia in Toulouse, France.

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
AustraliaNew Zealand England South Africa Wales Australia France New Zealand England Japan France
16 16 16 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
 Namibia — — — 19th 20th 20th 20th 18th 17th 19th

1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)

Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup
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
Source: [citation needed]
1 October 1999
Fiji 67–18 Namibia
Try: Lasagavibau (2)
S. Tawake
Rauluni
Satala
Mocelutu
Smith
Tiko
Katalau
Con: Serevi (8)
Pen: Serevi (2)		Try: Jacobs
Senekal
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
8 October 1999
France 47–13 Namibia
Try: Mola (3)
Ntamack
Dourthe
Mignoni
Bernat-Salles
Con: Dourthe (4)
Pen: Dourthe (3)		Try: Samuelson
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Referee: Chris White (England)
14 October 1999
Canada 72–11 Namibia
Try: Stanley (2)
Snow (2)
Nichols (2)
Charron
Ross
Williams
Con: Rees (9)
Pen: Rees (3)		Try: Hough
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Stade de Toulouse
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)

Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup
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
Source: [citation needed]
14 October 2003
Argentina 67–14 Namibia
Try: Méndez
Bouza (2)
J. Fernández Miranda
Penalty try (2)
Gaitán (3)
N. Fernández Miranda
Con: Quesada (7)
Pen: Quesada		Try: Grobier
Husselman
Con: Wessels (2)
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Attendance: 17,887
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
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)
25 October 2003
Australia 142–0 Namibia
Try: Latham (5)
Lyons
Mortlock
Tuqiri (3)
Penalty try
Rogers (2)
Paul
Giteau (3)
Grey
Turinui (2)
Burke
Roe
Con: Rogers (16)
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 33,000
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
30 October 2003
Namibia 7–37 Romania
Try: Isaacs
Con: Wessels		Try: Petrechei
Sîrbu
Chiriac
Teodorescu
Săuan
Con: Tofan (3)
Pen: Tofan (2)
Aurora Stadium, Launceston
Attendance: 15,457
Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

2007 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)

Main article: 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
Source: [citation needed]
9 September 2007
20:00
 Ireland32–17 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'		ReportTry: 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
France 87–10 Namibia
Try: Heymans 7' m
Marty 11' c
Dusautoir 21' c
Nallet (2) 32' c, 40+' c
Clerc (3) 38' c, 59' c, 65' c
Bonnaire 47' c
Chabal (2) 49' c, 54' c
Élissalde 56' c
Ibañez 75' m
Con: Élissalde (11/13)		ReportTry: Langenhoven 79' c
Con: Losper (1/1)
Drop: Wessels (1/1) 10'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 35,339
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
22 September 2007
21:00
Argentina 63–3 Namibia
Try: Roncero 25' c
Leguizamón (2) 35' m, 52' c
M. Contepomi 38' c
F. Contepomi 45' c
Tiesi 55' m
Corleto 58' m
Penalty try 63' c
Todeschini 71' c
Con: Contepomi (4/7)
Todeschini (2/2)
Pen: F. Contepomi (2/2) 10', 20'		ReportPen: Schreuder (1/1) 7'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 55,067
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
26 September 2007
18:00
Georgia 30–0 Namibia
Try: Giorgadze 37' c
Machkhaneli 70' c
Kacharava 80+' c
Con: Kvirikashvili (3/3)
Pen: Kvirikashvili (3/6) 8', 26', 69'		Report
Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens
Attendance: 32,549
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

2011 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)

Main article: 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
Source: [citation needed]
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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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
South Africa 87–0 Namibia
Try: Aplon (2) 7' c, 65' c
Habana 22' c
Penalty try 30' c
Fourie 38' c
F. Steyn 49' c
M. Steyn 61' c
De Jongh (2) 63' c, 71' c
Hougaard (2) 68' c, 80' c
Rossouw 78' c
Con: M. Steyn (6/6)
Pienaar (6/6)
Pen: M. Steyn (1/1) 4'		Report
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 26,839
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
26 September 2011
19:30
Wales 81–7 Namibia
Try: S. Williams (3) 8' m, 47' c, 70' c
Brew 14' c
Faletau 18' c
Jenkins 50' c
North (2) 61' c, 66' c
J. Davies 62' c
L. Williams 75' m
Byrne 77' m
A. W. Jones 80+' c
Con: S. Jones (6/7)
Priestland (3/5)
Pen: S. Jones (1/1) 3'		ReportTry: Koll 53' c
Con: Kotzé (1/1)
Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
Attendance: 13,710
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

2015 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)

Main article: 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
Source: [citation needed]
24 September 2015
20:00
New Zealand 58–14 Namibia
Try: Vito 6' c
Milner-Skudder (2) 10' m, 40' m
Fekitoa 21' c
Barrett 31' c
Savea (2) 47' c, 75' m
Smith 61' m
Taylor 79' c
Con: Barrett (4/8) 7', 21', 32', 80'
Slade (1/1) 48'
Pen: Barrett (1/1) 5'		ReportTry: Deysel 51' m
Con: Kotzé (0/1)
Pen: Kotzé (3/3) 14', 23', 44'
Olympic Stadium, London
Attendance: 51,820
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
29 September 2015
16:45
Tonga 35–21 Namibia
Try: Veainu (2) 6' c, 55' m
Ram (2) 12' m, 45' m
Fosita 25' c
Con: Lilo (2/5) 7', 26'
Pen: Lilo (1/2) 35'
Morath (1/1) 73'		ReportTry: Tromp 18' c
Burger (2) 49' c, 67' c
Con: Kotzé (3/3) 19', 49', 68'
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 10,103
Referee: Glen Jackson (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'		ReportTry: 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
Argentina 64–19 Namibia
Try: Hernández 7' c
Moroni 19' c
Agulla 24' c
Isa 36' m
Noguera Paz 40' c
Alemanno 49' c
Senatore 64' c
Montoya 69' c
Cubelli 74' c
Con: González Iglesias (4/5) 8', 20', 26', 40'
Socino (4/4) 50', 65', 70', 75'
Pen: González Iglesias (1/2) 12'		ReportTry: Tromp 13' c
Greyling 46' c
Jantjies 80' m
Con: Kotzé (2/2) 14', 47'
Redelinghuys (0/1)
Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Attendance: 30,198
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

2019 Rugby World Cup (Pool B)

Main article: 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
Source: [citation needed]
22 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Italy 47–22 Namibia
Try: Penalty try 11'
Allan 26' c
Tebaldi 40+1' c
Bellini 44' c
Canna 47' c
Polledri 70' m
Minozzi 76' c
Con: Allan (3/3) 27', 40+2', 45'
Canna (2/3) 48', 77'		ReportTry: Stevens 6' c
Greyling 57' m
Plato 79' c
Con: Loubser (2/3) 7', 80'
Pen: Loubser (1/1) 51'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka
Attendance: 20,354
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
28 September 2019
18:45 JST (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'		ReportPen: Loubser (1/2) 24'
City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Attendance: 36,449
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
6 October 2019
13:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) New Zealand 71–9 Namibia
Try: Reece (2) 6' m, 53' c
Lienert-Brown (2) 21' m, 47' c
Ta'avao 36' c
B. Smith (2) 40+5' c, 68' c
Moody 42' m
Whitelock 56' c
J. Barrett 76' c
Perenara 79' m
Con: J. Barrett (8/11) 37', 40+6', 44', 48', 53', 57', 69', 77'		ReportPen: Stevens (3/3) 3', 26', 30'
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu
Attendance: 48,354
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
13 October 2019
12:15 JST (UTC+09)
Namibia 0–0
(Cancelled)		 Canada
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi
Referee: 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)

Main article: 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
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
(H) Host
9 September 2023
13:00 CEST (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'		ReportTry: 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 CEST (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'		ReportPen: Swanepoel (1/1) 11'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 31,996
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)[3]
21 September 2023
21:00 CEST (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 CEST (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'		ReportTry: 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 2019 World Cup following the cancellation of the match due to Typhoon Hagibis.

Team records

Most points in a game

Biggest winning margin

  • Never won a match.

Most tries in a game

Highest score against

Biggest losing margin

Most tries against

Individual records

Most appearances overall

Most points overall

Most points in a match

Most tries overall

Most penalty goals overall

References

  1. ^ Meagher, Gerard (18 September 2015). "Rugby World Cup 2015 power rankings: New Zealand on top at kick-off". The Guardian sport blog.
  2. ^ "NAMIBIA V CANADA MATCH CANCELLED". Rugby World Cup. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.