Sunday’s Stellenbosch Challenge semifinal will mark the 13th test between Kenya and Namibia.
The two sides met for the first time during the Rugby World Cup 1995 qualification tournament in Nairobi in 1993, the Welwitschias running away with a 60-9 result over the Simbas at the RFUEA Ground. They eventually won the qualification tournament but stunningly missed out on qualification to Ivory Coast who claimed the sole ticket to the 1995 RWC in South Africa.
It would be ten years before Kenya and Namibia renewed their rivalry, the Namibians winning a two test series in Nairobi.
They would continue with their dominance over their East African rivals, winning subsequent tests in Windhoek in 2004 and 2006 before an Oscar Osir inspired Simbas stunned the Namibians 30-26 at the RFUEA Ground on 9 September 2006, Kenya’s first ever win over Namibia.
The two sides would meet up seven years later in the Windhoek Tri-Nations in Windhoek, Namibia winning 55-35.
Fast forward to July 2014 at the Rugby World Cup qualification tournament in Antananarivo. Namibia began the tournament as overwhelming favorites, only to be stunned 29-22 by Kenya. This result set the stage for a dramatic qualification tournament that eventually saw Namibia secure qualification for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Subsequent meetings between the two sides have ended in Namibia’s favor, the last one in August 2018 seeing Namibia earn a ticket to the 2019 Rugby World Cup at Kenya’s expense.
Head to Head Record
1993: Kenya 9 Namibia 60 – Nairobi
2003: Kenya 10 Namibia 32 –Nairobi
2003: Kenya 10 Namibia 38 – Nairobi
2004: Namibia 65 Kenya 7 – Windhoek
2006: Namibia 84 Kenya 12 – Windhoek
2006: Kenya 30 Namibia 26 – Nairobi
2013: Namibia 55 Kenya 35 – Windhoek
2014: Namibia 22 Kenya 29 – Antananarivo
2015: Namibia 46 Kenya 13 – Windhoek
2016: Namibia 56 Kenya 21 – Windhoek
2017: Namibia 45 Kenya 7 – Windhoek
2018: Namibia 53 Kenya 28 – Windhoek
