Namibia has competed in seven 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 six tournaments. Namibia has so far played 26 games at that cup without ever winning one.
Namibia's best match result was in 2015 when they lost to Georgia by a single point. Namibia's worst match result was in 2003 when they lost to Australia 0-142, which is the record of the biggest winning margin. So far Namibia has not hosted any World Cup games.
World Cup record
1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
2007 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)
2011 Rugby World Cup (Pool D)
2015 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
2019 Rugby World Cup (Pool B)
Notes: Despite both teams naming their sides, this match was cancelled following an evacuation order in Kamaishi during Typhoon Hagibis and awarded as a 0–0 draw.
2023 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
Overall record Up to date as of 2023 World Cup Namibia vs Played Win Draw Lost Win % 3 0 0 3 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 2 0 1 1 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 3 0 0 3 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 3 0 0 3 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 0 0 1 0% Overall 27 0 1 26 0%
Notes: The table above excludes the awarded 0–0 draw against Canada during the 2019 World Cup following the cancellation of the match due to Typhoon Hagibis.
Team records Most points in a game 26 vs (2023) 25 vs (2011) 22 vs (2019) 21 vs (2015) 19 vs (2015)
Biggest winning margin Never won a match.
Most tries in a game 3 vs (2015) 3 vs (2015) 3 vs (2019) 2 vs (1999) 2 vs (2003) 2 vs (2007) 2 vs (2011) 2 vs (2011) 2 vs (2011)
Highest score against 142 vs (2003) 96 vs (2023) 87 vs (2007) 87 vs (2011) 81 vs (2011)
Biggest losing margin 142 vs (2003) 96 vs (2023) 87 vs (2011) 77 vs (2007) 74 vs (2011)
Most tries against 22 vs (2003) 14 vs (2023) 13 vs (2007) 12 vs (2011) 12 vs (2011)
Individual records Most appearances overall 14 Eugene Jantjies 12 PJ van Lill 11 Jacques Burger 11 Aranos Coetzee 11 Tinus du Plessis 11 Hugo Horn 11 Johnny Redelinghuys
Most points overall 59 Theuns Kotzé 22 Tiaan Swanepoel 22 Leandre van Dyk 18 Emile Wessels 15 JC Greyling
Most points in a match 16 Theuns Kotzé vs (2015) 16 Tiaan Swanepoel vs (2023) 15 Theuns Kotzé vs (2011) 10 Jacques Burger vs (2015) 9 Theuns Kotzé vs (2015) 9 Damian Stevens vs (2019)
Most tries overall 3 JC Greyling 2 Jacques Burger 2 Heinz Koll 2 Theuns Kotzé 2 Gerswin Mouton 2 Johann Tromp
Most penalty goals overall 8 Theuns Kotzé 6 Tiaan Swanepoel 6 Leandre van Dyk 3 Damian Stevens 2 Cliven Loubser 1 Morné Schreuder 1 Emile Wessels
References
Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, () Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, ()