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Namibia and the United Arab Emirates, who were runners-up in the Men's Africa Cup 2025 and Asia Rugby Men's Championship respectively, will face each other for a first-ever Test as they contest the Asia/Africa RWC 2027 Play-Off on 26 July at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Uganda to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The Welwitschias will be reeling after losing the African title two years in a row to champions Zimbabwe - it was their first loss to the Sables in more than two decades but the narrow 28-30 loss should give them enough motivation to to lift their heads and face an UAE side which who will offer them different challenges this weekend.
The Namibians have been to every Men's RWC tournament since 1999, and the UAE have never qualified. However their trajectory on World Rugby’s rankings are heading in opposite directions. The UAE side are at a record high 39th and a win over Namibia could see them reach new heights - possibly 34th if they secure a win by 15 points or more. The Southern African side have dropped to 25th and a loss would see them drop to a new low of 30th.
Truth be told, neither side will be looking at the rankings with much interest now - the eyes are on the prize as victory ensures their pathway to Australia still has a lifeline, albeit a challenging one. Whoever wins will head to the Final Qualification Tournament, which will be played in Dubai from 8-18 November, where they will face Belgium plus a possible country from Oceania/South America/ North America and a second team from South America.
Their respective routes to this playoff game has seen the UAE finish runner-up for the second consecutive year in the Asian regional tournament - with a loss to Hong Kong China, and away wins over South Korea and Sri Lanka.
Positives for the team have been the introduction of new players such as Max Johnson at fly-half and Brad Janes at flank. The side scored 11 tries in their three games - and Bradley Janes, Jack Stapley and Niko Volavola each scored three tries. They have firepower among the backs but its how the pack stands up to Namibia that will be key.
They also need to hope that Head Coach Jacques Benade has finally addressed their discipline issues, something he has expressed concern about previously. They have had a player sin-binned in every 2025 match and conceded an average of 9 points when they were a player down. In total, UAE has conceded six yellow cards and one red in their last five matches.
The opening forty minutes will be one to watch. UAE scored the majority of their points in the first half of matches, while Namibia was also effective in the first period of their games, scoring between 15 to 17 points in each of their three games.
Namibia scored the most points in the African Men’s tournament with 104, and flyhalf Cliven Loubser scored 35 of those. It's the pack that will look for dominance though.
Interim Head Coach is Saracens and Welwitschias legend Jacques Burger, who stepped up just before the recent championship, in addition to his Director of Rugby role, after coach Chrysander Botha resigned just weeks before the African Cup.
They have won two and lost two Tests in 2025 as they suffered a heavy 73-6 loss to Italy in Windhoek at the end of June. Before the defeat to the Sables last week, they had never lost a World Cup qualifier on African soil.
Burger said following the loss last week to Zimbabwe, “That’s the fight we will need to go further from here on. I know nobody gives us a chance now; everyone has written us off, but we must just go out and show the people what we are made of.” He added on the eve of the match, “"We will not underestimate the UAE but will do everything to keep our dream alive of qualifying for the 2027 RWC in Australia.”
Morné Ferreira (South Africa) is the match referee.
UAE Results – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025
UAE 10-43 Hong Kong China
Korea 36-38 UAE
Sri Lanka 21-29 UAE
Namibia Results - Africa Men's Cup 2025
Namibia 55-17 Senegal
Namibia 21-7 Algeria
Namibia 28-30 Zimbabwe