Zimbabwe ended a 34 year wait on Saturday. The Sables completed an upset win over Namibia to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027. The Australia hosted tournament will be Zimbabwe’s third appearance in a Men’s Rugby World Cup and a first after a 34 year wait.
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The Sables were 30-28 winners in a nail-bitter contest against Namibia. Cliven Loubser, who has appeared in five Rugby World Cup matches for Namibia, opened the scoring. Ian Prior responded for Zimbabwe to make it 3-3 early on.
Kudzai Mashawi crossed for the game’s opening try before Prior extended Zimbabwe’s lead. It came with Namibia in trouble as scrum half Jacques Theron was yellow carded.
The return of Theron saw Namibia scoring next. Captain Prince Gaoseb did so with Zimbabwe this time down to 14-men. Flanker Jason Fraser was yellow carded for a a deliberate knock-on. Namibia’s try was converted by Loubser for a 16-16 scoreline at half-time.
The second-half saw Zimbabwe on top in the third quarter and Namibia in top in the fourth. Godfrey Muzanargwo and Brandon Mudzekenyedzi scored for the Sables but Namibia’s response came. Jay-Cee Nel and Adriaan Booysen scored two make it 30-28 late in the match.
Namibia had a shot at victory only for Tiaan Swanepoel to miss a 79th minute penalty. Zimbabwe’s players celebrated victory while sending Namibia into repechage. The Namibians will face Namibia will face the United Arab Emirates (Asia 2) in a play-off match. The winner will join Belgium and two others in the four-team tournament to determine the 24th, and final competitor at Australia 2027.
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Zimbabwe are the second African team confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2027. They join the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, South Africa. Zimbabwe were actually the first African team at a Rugby World Cup; the Sables competed at Rugby World Cups 1987 and 1991.
Rugby World Cup 1995 did not involve Zimbabwe and nor did Rugby World Cups 1999-2023. Cote d’Ivoire qualified for Rugby World Cup 1995 but was unable to do so again in the subsequent tournaments.
Namibia debuted at the expanded tournament in 1999. The Namibians went on to hold a firm grasp on the Africa a spot from 1999-2023. Zimbabwe’s win over Namibia in the Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers means that, if Namibia were to go on a qualify via repechage, Africa would have three teams at a Men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time.
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Zimbabwe are the third different team confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2027 compared to the twenty who competed at Rugby World Cup 2023. The Sables join Hong Kong and Spain as the fresh teams.
Hong Kong qualified by winning the Asia 1 spot. Hong Kong were up against lowly ranked opposition and had no problems in securing the Asian allocated qualifying spot. In doing so, Hong Kong will make their Rugby World Cup debut in Australia 2027. The tournament will be the first Men’s Rugby World Cup with two Asian competitors.
Spain qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2023 only to be disqualified. They made amends to qualify first time since Rugby World Cup 1999, earlier this year. They join regulars Georgia and Romania at the tournament as well as neighbors Portugal who booked their spot in back-to-back Rugby World Cups for the first time.
The post Zimbabwe Qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 and end 34 year wait appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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