All or Nothing: Namibia’s Fight for Their 2027 Rugby World Cup Dream
Namibia meet Belgium on Saturday, November 8 at 19:30 (GMT+4) / local Dubai time) for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, UAE. (free streaming available on RugbyPass TV)
CAPE TOWN, South Africa –Namibia’s Director of Rugby and Head Coach Jacques Burger went to the Men’s Rugby World Cup three times as a player, but the Namibia legend is finding the route there a little more challenging as a coach.
Namibia had qualified comfortably for every World Cup since 1999, with Burger captaining the team at the 2011 and 2015 tournaments. But a 30-28 defeat to rivals Zimbabwe in July’s Rugby Africa Cup final in Uganda changed everything.
For the first time in over two decades, Africa’s single direct World Cup qualification slot went to another country.
That outcome has left the Welwitschias with the tougher task of playing in a World Cup Qualification Tournament in Dubai against Belgium, Samoa, and Brazil on November 8, 13 and 18.
“It’ll take three special performances,” Burger tells Rugby Africa Media. “We have to make sure we are ready for every game, that we won’t switch off in any of those games and hopefully the results will go our way.”
The four teams will play each other once in a round-robin format, with the top side claiming the last remaining 24th spot at the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
“We know all the three sides will be extremely tough,” he says.
“Brazil and Belgium will have better unity because they spend a lot of time together. We only have a couple of weeks with most of our players being outside the country.
“Samoa is ranked 16th in the world, we are ranked 27th, they’ve played big Test matches. Their players are professionals from outside, playing in top leagues. They will be extremely tough. So we expect three tough battles. We have to make sure we do our utmost best every time we are out there on the pitch.”
Namibia are prepared to make do without five key players ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.
“It’s a matter of adapting, there will be players who need to step up in their positions and use the opportunity. We have to put our trust and faith in them, it’s up to them to put up their hands.”
At 42, Burger, who won two English Premiership titles with Saracens during his playing days is backing the Welwitschias to deliver in Dubai despite the setbacks.
“I think a couple of strengths that the Namibian team possesses is our physicality,” he says.
“I think even when we are smaller, we tend to be up there with the physicality, which is great because we have to win that gain-line battle. Which will be extremely important, especially against big ball-carriers, big players. Especially Samoa, getting that offload away- they’ve got big boys, big professional guys that are going to be extremely important.
“If we can get our set-pieces to fire, then get some good forward-ball, a good attacking platform, we can be dangerous with ball in hand. So we need to get good quality ball, attack well, score some points. Then it’s just a matter of belief and fighting hard as a squad, sticking together during the tough times and picking ourselves up when we make mistakes.”
Namibia reached the final qualification tournament in Dubai after an emphatic 86-29 win over the United Arab Emirates in the Africa-Asia play-off in Kampala, just a week after their Africa Cup final defeat to Zimbabwe. Not qualifying directly for the first time since 1999, and losing regional superiority in Africa, was a reality check.
“I think a lot more needs to be done, we need to focus more in developing local players. Financially, it’s tough to do that currently, but we need more camps to improve our league. Then obviously, better talent identification, even going down lower to school level, growing talent there and developing those boys. In five to 10 years, they will be the next Namibia rugby players. We’ve fallen behind over the years while other teams have grown. We need to make sure we have the opportunity now playing these three matches. We are going to play the best three matches we have ever played. If we can do that, then we will have a chance.”
Namibia Squad for Dubai
Forwards: Otja Auala, Joshua Bester, Aranos Coetzee, Gianluca Savoldelli, Haitembu Shikufa, Armand Combrinck, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Max Katjijeko, Tiaan de Klerk, Adriaan Ludick, Johan Retief, Adriaan Booysen, Wian Conradie, Prince Gaoseb, Riaan Grové, Johan Luttig.
Backs: AJ Kearns, TC Kisting, Jacques Theron, Cliven Loubser, André van der Berg, Danco Burger, Johan Deysel, Divan Rossouw, JC Greyling, Jürgen Meyer, Aston Mukwiilongo, Jay-Cee Nel, Danie van der Merwe.
More information: Click Here
Where to watch?
RugbyPass TV: https://rugbypass.tv
Match Day 1: Saturday 8 November 2025 (Local Dubai Time) (GMT+4)
- 17:00 – Samoa v Brazil
- 19:30 – Belgium v Namibia
Match Day 2: Thursday 13 November 2025 (Local Dubai Time) (GMT+4)
- 17:00 – Belgium v Brazil
- 19:30 – Samoa v Namibia
Match Day 3: Tuesday 18 November 2025 (Local Dubai Time) (GMT+4)
- 17:00 – Namibia v Brazil
- 19:30 – Samoa v Belgium
Written by Enock Muchinjo
