Namibia U19 rule in Africa

Namibia Under-19 beat Kenya Under-19 52-17 in Windhoek on 31 August 2014 to qualify for the IRB's  Junior World Trophy in Portugal next year.


The Junior World Trophy is the second tier international Under-10 tournament run by the IRB. The 2015 tournament will be the eighth since 2008. Namibia have taken part in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014. This year they ended sixth in Hong Kong, above Canada, whom Namibia beat, and Hong Kong. Japan, who had a narrow 34-28 victory over Namibia, won the tournament for the first Tuine.


In the Confederation of African Rugby's Under-20 tournament, Zimbabwe beat Tunisia 44-26 to come third. But only Namibia qualify to represent Africa.


The qualifying tournament was played in Windhoek. The four teams taking part were Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tunisia. Namibia beat Tunisia 78-3 while Kenya beat Zimbabwe 27-20.


Namibia easily won the final. By half-time they led Kenya 35-10 after captain Christopher Arries had scored two of his team's five tries and converted all five before he left the match with a knee injury.


Eight teams will take part in the Junior World Trophy. So far those who have qualified are Portugal who are the hosts, Tonga and Fiji who were relegated from the Junior World Championship. Fiji's place was taken by Japan. The other four places at thew Junior World Trophy will be taken by qualifiers from Asia, South America, North America and Europe.

The past winners are Italy twice and Uruguay, Romania, Samoa, the USA and Japan once each.


* The Namibian senior team won a quadrangular tournament in Madagascar to qualify as Africa's representative at the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015.