The Namibia national rugby union team represents Namibia in men's international rugby union competitions nicknamed the Welwitschias, are a tier-two nation in the World Rugby tier system, and have participated in the six Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999. They are governed by the Namibia Rugby Union.
Hugo Porta is a former Argentine Rugby Union player, an inductee of both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame, and one of the best fly-halves the sport has seen. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played 58 times for Los Pumas, captaining them on 34 occasions, including leading them during the first World Cup in 1987.
Percival Colin Montgomery OIS is a Namibian-South African former professional rugby union player. When he ended his international career in August 2008, he held the all-time records for both caps and points for South Africa's national team, known as the Springboks.
Bryan Gary Habana OIS is a South African former professional rugby union player who initially played as an outside centre but later shifted to the wing. He most recently played for Toulon in the French Top 14 competition, and for the South Africa national team.
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team, nicknamed the Sables, represents 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.
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.
Rimas Álvarez Kairelis is an Argentine rugby union rugby player. He currently plays for Perpignan in the Top 14 in France. He has represented Argentina, and was part of the Argentinian squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and 2007 Rugby World Cup. His usual position is at lock.
The principal sports in Namibia are football, rugby union, cricket, golf and fishing. Boxing and athletics are also popular. The home stadium for all national teams is Independence Stadium in Windhoek, while Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura is also occasionally used.
Dawid Husselman, better known as Hakkies Husselman, is a Namibian rugby union former international player and a current coach. He played as a scrum-half.
Gideon "Kees" Lensing is a former Namibian rugby union player and former head coach of the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR). He played as a prop for six different teams over more than 11 years.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup, was the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It was hosted in Japan from 20 September to 2 November in 12 venues all across the country. The opening match was played at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu, Tokyo, with the final match being held at International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. This was the first time that the tournament had taken place in Asia and outside the traditional Tier 1 rugby nations.
Eugene Jantjies is a Namibian rugby union scrum-half, currently playing for the Welwitschias.
Namibia has competed in six 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 five tournaments. Namibia has so far played 22 games at that cup without ever winning one.
Theuns Andries Willem Kotzé is a Namibian international rugby union player, currently playing with the Welwitschias in South African domestic rugby. He is a utility back that can play as a scrum-half, fly-half or fullback, but is best known for playing as a fly-half for Namibia in the Rugby World Cup tournaments in 2011 and 2015.
The 2003 Samoa rugby union tour of Austral Africa was a series of matches played in July 2003 in Namibia and South Africa by Samoa national rugby union team, to prepare the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Tjiuee Uanivi is a Namibian rugby union player that normally plays as a lock or flanker. He currently plays for US Montauban in the ProD2.
Daniel Pieter "Reniel" Hugo is a South African professional rugby union player for Sharks in the Currie Cup in South Africa. He mainly plays as a lock, but can also play as a loose forward and flanker.
Johannes Voges 'Aranos' Coetzee is a Namibian rugby union player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. His regular position is prop.
Johan Deysel is a Namibian professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Pro D2 club Colomiers and captains the Namibia national team.
The Welwitschias, currently known as the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias due to sponsorship by Namibia Breweries Limited, are a Namibian rugby union team that often participates in South African domestic competitions. As of 2021, they are regular participants in the annual Rugby Challenge tournament, having previously played in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup.
