Namibia end run of Rugby World Cup qualification

 

A 26-8 defeat by Samoa means Namibia won't be appearing at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the first finals the nation will miss since 1995.

Though they have yet to win a match at the game's showpiece, Namibia have featured in all seven tournaments since their debut in 1999. However, defeats by Belgium and Samoa at the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai means Peter Rossouw’s side are out.

The final qualifying place at the tournament is between Samoa and Belgium, who meet in a winner-takes-all showdown next Tuesday. 

Belgium, who defeated Namibia in their opener, survived a scare as they played for over half an hour with just 14-men against Brazil, edging the game 30-27 with a try in the final two minutes to replacement prop Maxime Jadot.

Samoa were made to work hard by a Namibia, who never gave up and Rossouw was pleased with the 80-minute performance of his team: “We are very happy with the commitment and the effort the guys showed today. We were a lot more physical in the contact, which wasn't that great the other day against Belgium, and I think we played the right game plan. 

"We just couldn't keep the ball for long enough in our phases to put pressure on attack. But very happy tactically, very happy. And we finish really strong in the second half, we were very happy with that.”