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Reigning Rugby Africa Men's Cup champions Zimbabwe face Namibia in Namboole, Uganda, on Saturday, 19th July, and importantly, the winner of the final will qualify for the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027.
The Namibians have a dominant record over the Sables, winning 31 out of 34 matches, but it was the Zimbabweans who won last time they met, which was in the semifinal on the way to winning the trophy last year and denying Namibia a 9th Rugby Africa Cup title - the most in the tournament.
That win for Zimbabwe was their first over the Welwitschias in 23 years and their first African Men’s Cup title in 12 years. Fittingly, the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup final this year is between the two highest teams in the competition.
One of the key players for that championship-winning team was Ian Prior, who formerly was with the Western Force in Super Rugby, and he has also helped them to wins over the UAE and Korea in their Asian tour at the end of 2024, and has been instrumental in their quarter and semi-final wins in Uganda so far.
Zimbabwe’s path to the final came via wins over Morocco 43-9 and Kenya, 29-23. They are on a seven-match winning run dating back to a 20-12 defeat to Algeria in 2022.
Prior has scored 37 points in this tournament - more than half his team's overall total at the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025.
Prior said, “These are the games that you play for as a player - Grand Finals. Games like this can change the course of people's careers, not only players but also administrators, coaches. It's really exciting, and it's great to be a part of it this weekend.
We've given ourselves a shot, which is very pleasing, given all the hard work that has gone in from a lot of people from inside and outside of the team over the last 12 to 18 months to get us to this position.
And now it is time to go and enjoy it for what it is. Playing for that spot in the World Cup is really exciting, and the cool thing from a team perspective is that we haven't really played to our potential yet in this tournament.”
Zimbabwe captain Hilton Mudariki said that it's been so long since Zimbabwe has been at the Men’s Rugby World Cup (1991). “A lot of the buys weren't even born the last time (we were at a RWC). We have seen footage of Zimbabwe competing at it, and it definitely inspires us, and we have an opportunity to inspire the next generation to want to become Sables rugby players.”
Sables coach Pieter Benade said of the match, “We know we have to go and create history with this group, and we have a lot of respect for Namibia and their rugby culture. We are desperate to represent the continent at the Rugby World Cup and to show what Africa can do.”
Namibia has represented Africa at the Rugby World Cup seven times and has been present at every tournament since 1999, compared to the two so far for Zimbabwe.
Of Namibia, Prior said, “They're a quality side, they have shown that in the last seven (Rugby World Cup) campaigns. They're a well-drilled side, they'll bring some defensive pressure, they're strong in the set-piece, and it is up to us to make sure we utilise our tools in the game and put our best foot forward in the 80 minutes”.
Namibia were thrashed by Italy before the Rugby Africa Men's Cup got underway. They saw a late Head Coach change (with Chrysander Botha tendering his resignation a few weeks before the start of the tournament), and Saracens and Namibia legend Jacques Burger stepped into the role. He previously represented his country at the Rugby World Cups in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
The Welwitschias beat Senegal 55-17 and then Algeria 21-7 in last week’s semifinal. One of the key players was US-based Le Roux Malan, who played his first Test in two years and was player-of-the-match. Cliven Loubser converted his own try and kicked three penalties to contribute 16 of Namibia’s points.
Burger, who is also balancing his coaching role with his director of rugby responsibilities, said of the prospect of going to another Rugby World Cup, “Getting an opportunity to play against the world's best rugby players is an unbelievable experience, and I have been fortunate enough to experience that.
Everybody here, all the teams, that's what they fight for, to get that opportunity, to represent their country at a World Cup. Careers don't last forever, but the memories you make as players are everlasting.”
The losing side on Saturday still has one pathway to reach the tournament in Australia in 2027 but not an easy one. They would need to play the United Arab Emirates next weekend in the Asia/Africa play-off and if victorious, earn a spot at the four-team Final Qualification Tournament in November to be played in Dubai.
