Namibia, who are the defending champions of the Rugby Africa Cup have today morning arrived in Uganda eager to clinch their tenth title of the tournament.
The team is the record holder with nine titles, and has dominated the tournament since 2014 by winning all the six competitions organised in the 10 years.
The Namibian team is known as the Welwitschias, and they first played rugby in 1916. They joined World Rugby in 1990 and are currently ranked 22nd globally.
The Welwitschias have made 15 appearances in the Rugby Africa Cup, winning the championship most recently in 2022.
The competition has seen six different winners since 2000, with Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, and Zimbabwe all claiming the trophy at least once.
The Namibian squad, led by head coach Allister Coetzee, who has been at the helm since 2021, is made up of experienced players and rising stars.
Coetzee’s notable coaching career includes leading the Stormers and South Africa’s national team. He guided Namibia to victory in the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup, securing their spot at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Namibia and Kenya have faced off in the finals of the last four editions (2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022), with Namibia emerging victorious each time. Namibia defeated Kenya 36-0 in the most recent final in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Key players in the current Namibia squad include Johan Retief, Adriaan Booysen, Jason Benade, Alcino Isaacs, and Des Sethie, all part of the match-day 23 that secured their World Cup qualification in 2022.
They are joined by talents such as Haitembu Shikufa, Max Katatjeko, Uruguay’s Penarol hooker Obert Nortje, Under-20 front rower Ian Klitzke, and veteran lock Mahepisa Tjeriko.
The Rugby Africa Cup will feature the eight best teams in Africa, including Namibia, hosts Uganda, Kenya, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.
The tournament’s matches will kick-off on Saturday July 20, and the final will be played on July 28, 2024.
The quarter finals will be played at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole on Saturday, semi-finals at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku on Wednesday July 24, while the finals will be played on Sunday July 28.
Namibia will play the first match of the campaign against Burkina Faso on Saturday, July 20 at 10am.
The other quarterfinal matches will see Kenya facing Senegal at 12pm, Algeria playing against Ivory Coast at 2pm, and Zimbabwe competing against hosts Uganda at 4pm.
Namibia, if victorious in the quarter-finals, will face the winner between Zimbabwe and hosts Uganda in the semi-finals on Wednesday July 24 at Wankulukuku at 4pm.
All Rugby Africa Cup matches will be broadcast live on NBS Sport.
