The Namibia national rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, are a tier-two nation in the World Rugby tier system, and have participated in five Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999. They are governed by the Namibia Rugby Union.
The Japan national rugby union team, is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), which was founded in 1926. They compete annually in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Asia Rugby Championship. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987.
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team, nicknamed the Sables, represents the African nation of Zimbabwe in international competition, and is administered by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. While sides representing the colony of Rhodesia have played as early as 1910, the modern day Zimbabwe rugby team did not play its first test until 1981, against Kenya. Zimbabwe has competed in two World Cups, in 1987 and 1991, in place of South Africa, who were sanctioned by the IRB at the time due to apartheid. Zimbabwe is categorized as Tier 3 Development One, which prioritizes Zimbabwe over other nations due to historical success as well as popularity of rugby in the nation.
The South is a select rugby union team that draws its players from the South of Scotland, mainly the Scottish Borders where there has always been a proud tradition of rugby union. Historically the South team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship. After rugby union became a professional sport in 1995, the team was replaced in 1996 by the new Border Reivers team based in the same geographical area as the South and who wore the same colours as the old team.
David Alan Lewis is a former Irish cricketer and rugby union referee. He is also an occasional media commentator on Irish cricket. His father, Ian, and daughters, Robyn and Gaby, have also played cricket for Ireland,
The Spain national rugby union team, nicknamed Los Leones, is administered by the Spanish Rugby Federation. The team annually takes part in the European Nations Cup, the highest European rugby championship outside the Six Nations. As of 11 September 2017, Spain is ranked 19th in the world.
The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, participates in the annual Africa Cup and are considered a third tier rugby team.
Stephen Paul "Steve" Ford was a Welsh international rugby union winger. After being banned from rugby union for an act of professionalism, he was eventually allowed back into the sport and went on to represent the Wales national team. He played club rugby for Cardiff.
John Manson and was a Scottish international rugby union footballer who played with the Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors, two of Scotland's first professional rugby teams.
Mark Alun Jones is a Welsh dual-code international professional rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Tredegar RFC, Tredegar Ironsides RFC, Neath RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC, Pontypool RFC (2001–03), Aberavon RFC, as a flanker, i.e. number 6 or 7, or number eight, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hull FC and Warrington, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12.
Sport in Zimbabwe has a long tradition and has produced many world recognized sports names and personalities. Football is the most popular sport, although rugby union, cricket and netball also have a following, traditionally among the white minority. Field hockey is also played widely. Although Zimbabwe has produced many athletes that have competed for Zimbabwe, there are also a large number of athletes who learned their sport in Zimbabwe, but have chosen to represent other countries.
Rugby union in Ivory Coast is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top-flight league and the national rugby union team.
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against South Africa, each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins. As well as South Africa, the tour included a match against South West Africa, two games against Rhodesia and one versus East Africa.
Rugby union in Zimbabwe is a significant sport. Like the country's history, it has been riven with controversy, but equally the world has seen Zimbabwe at the Rugby World Cup on two occasions. As with rugby union in Namibia, the country's lack of infrastructure, and largely rural population has been a problem for national organisers.
The history of rugby union matches between France and Scotland dates back to 1910 when the two teams played against each other in Edinburgh. Scotland won the match 27 – 0. Since then there have been a total of 93 games played, resulting in 54 wins for France, 36 wins for Scotland and 3 draws, as of February 2019.
Massimo Giovanelli is a former Italian rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He was one of the best Italian rugby players of his generation.
The 1988 Scotland rugby union tour of Zimbabwe was a series of five matches played by the Scotland national rugby union team in Zimbabwe in May 1988. The Scotland team won all five of their matches including the two internationals against the Zimbabwe national rugby union team.
The 1995 Samoa rugby union tour of Great Britain was a series of matches played in October and November 1995 in Scotland and England by the Samoa national rugby union team. The tour was made after the good results at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Richard Ian Cramb is a Scottish former rugby union player, who made four appearances for the Scotland national rugby union team.
Edinburgh District was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from the Edinburgh area, as well as others from the rest of east central Scotland; roughly corresponding to the old Lothian regional council area. Historically the Edinburgh District team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
