Rugby union in Namibia

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Rugby union in Namibia is a popular team sport in Namibia and its predecessor province of South West Africa. Because Namibia was formerly ruled by South Africa, rugby in Namibia was frequently influenced by events in that country and its domestic competition.

The Namibia Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Namibia. The organisation was formed in March 1990, the same month that it joined the International Rugby Board (IRB). Before independence in 1990, the governing body was the South African Rugby Board. Phil Matthews' team was beaten 15 6 in the first test, and 26 15 in a match just two months before they started their 1991 Rugby World Cup campaign. After independence, Namibia had to mostly make do with games against Zimbabwe, most of which they won. Namibia had rested several key players against Côte d'Ivoire in this game. As a vast, sparsely populated country, with little infrastructure, players frequently have to travel huge distances to games. and a doctor. He is best known for representing his country in both the 2003 Cricket World Cup and the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup; as a result he became the first man to compete in the final stages of world cup competitions in cricket and rugby union in the same year. Schalk van der Merwe also got some press attention as he is a part time animal tamer and works regularly with lions.

The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Before Namibia gained its independence in 1990, the team, as South West Africa, played in South Africa's Currie Cup competition. Their best result was in 1988, when they finished third. They won the B section Currie Cup in 1987, beating Western Transvaal.

A Namibian team called the Welwitschias also participated in several seasons of South African domestic rugby. It entered the Vodacom Cup in 2010, 2011 and 2015. The Vodacom Cup is a second tier competition primarily used for developmental purposes, which runs alongside the Super Rugby season and involves all 14 South African provincial unions, with some invitational teams from other countries, such as the from Argentina and from Kenya. After the demise of the competition after the 2015 season, the Welwitschias participated in the First Division of the Currie Cup competition, as well as the replacement competition for the Vodacom Cup, the Rugby Challenge, launched in 2017. However, prior to the 2018 Currie Cup First Division, a lot of teams were struggling financially. The Welwitschias were informed that they would have to pay the travel costs for teams travelling to games in Windhoek, but — after initial reports indicated that they raised the money with the help of World Rugby — they could not raise the required funds and announced their withdrawal from the competition.

The NRU Premier League is Namibia's national rugby league and is contested by eight sides from all over Namibia. The current NRU Domestic League teams are:
FNB Wanderers R. F. C
FNB Western Suburbs R. C
FNB Kudus R. C
FNB Reho Falcon R. C
FNB Rehoboth R. C
Trustco United R. F. C
FNB Grootfontein R. C
FNB UNAM R. C

FNB Wanderers 2 R. F. C
FNB Western Suburbs 2 R. C
FNB Kudus 2 R. C
FNB Reho Falcon 2 R. C
FNB Rehoboth 2 R. C
Trustco United 2 R. F. C
FNB Grootfontein 2 R. C
FNB UNAM 2 R. C

Eastern Bulls R. C
Vipers R. C
Mariental R. C
Okahandja Highlanders R. C
NUST R. C

Dolphin R. C
Sparta 1 R. C
Kudus 3 R. C
Etosha R. C
Sparta 2 R. C

Ocean Swallows R. C
Oranjemund R. C
Keetmanshoop Rams R. C
Rosh Pinah Arende R. C

Wanderers W. R. C
Unam W. R. C
United W. R. C
Kudus W. R. C
Oceans Rugby W. R. C
Rehoboth W. R. C
Grootfontein W. R. C

Namibia has made the World Cup on seven occasions, in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 but has never won a game. In August 2018, the Welwitchias qualified for their sixth Rugby World Cup by defeating Kenya 53 28 in Windhoek. They competed in Pool B for the 2019 World Cup in Japan and drew a match against Canada to finish fourth in the group.