# 2019 Rugby World Cup – Africa qualification

Qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Africa Rugby began in June 2016, with 14 teams competing. On 18 August 2018, Namibia qualified for the World Cup by winning the 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup, defeating Kenya, who finished second and advanced to the repechage tournament.

## Format

The Africa Cup, controlled by Rugby Africa (CAR), will be the regional qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup 2019.
The first qualifying round was the 2016 1B and 1C Divisions. The winner of Division 1C was promoted to 1B and the second round of qualifying, while the team placed bottom in 1B was relegated and eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention.
Similarly, 2017 saw Divisions 1A (Gold Cup) and 1B (Silver Cup) act as Round 2. The winner of the 2017 Silver Cup advanced to the Gold Cup for 2018 and remain in contention, while the loser of the 2017 Gold Cup was relegated to the 2018 Silver Cup and eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention.
In Round 3, the winners of the 2018 Gold Cup will qualify for the World Cup as 'Africa 1', while the runner-up, 'Africa 2' will advance to the Repechage tournament as the African representative.

## Entrants

Fourteen teams competed during for the 2019 Rugby World Cup – African qualification; teams world rankings are prior to the first African qualification match on 12 June 2016 and bold nations denotes teams have previously played in a Rugby World Cup.
| Nation | Rank | Begins play | Qualifying status |
| Botswana | 64 | 26 June 2016 | Eliminated by Ivory Coast on 5 July 2017 |
| Cameroon | 91 | 5 June 2016 | Withdrew from World Cup contention in June 2016 |
| Ivory Coast | 51 | 29 June 2016 | Eliminated by Morocco on 8 July 2017 |
| Kenya | 27 | 24 June 2017 | Advanced to the Repechage as Africa 2 |
| Madagascar | 41 | 12 June 2016 | Eliminated by Morocco on 5 July 2017 |
| Mauritius | 86 | 10 July 2016 | Eliminated by Nigeria on 13 July 2016 |
| Morocco | 54 | 10 July 2016 | Eliminated by Kenya's victory on 11 August 2018 |
| Namibia | 21 | 1 July 2017 | Qualified by defeating Kenya on 18 August 2018 |
| Nigeria | 77 | 13 July 2016 | Eliminated by Morocco on 16 July 2016 |
| Senegal | 50 | 15 June 2016 | Eliminated by Tunisia on 5 August 2017 |
| South Africa | 3 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2015 World Cup |
| Tunisia | 38 | 26 June 2016 | Eliminated by Kenya 11 August 2018 |
| Uganda | 49 | 24 June 2017 | Eliminated by Kenya's victory on 11 August 2018 |
| Zambia | 83 | 12 June 2016 | Eliminated by Senegal on 15 June 2016 |
| Zimbabwe | 31 | 24 June 2017 | Eliminated by Namibia on 4 August 2018 |

## Round 1

The first round consisted of ten matches between 10 teams. The winner of the Africa Cup Division 1C, Morocco, advanced to the second round and was promoted to division 1B for 2017, while the two winners of division 1B, Senegal and Tunisia, advanced to division 1A.

### Round 1A: 2016 Africa Cup Division 1B

Africa Cup Division 1B was contested by six teams, in a two-group round-robin tournament. Pool 1 was held in Monastir, Tunisia, while Pool 2 was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The team with the worst record was relegated to Division 1C in 2017, and thus eliminated from qualification.

#### Pool A

* Advances to Round 2, Div 1A
* Advances to Round 2, Div 1B
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | Senegal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 27 | +57 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | Madagascar | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Zambia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 78 | −60 | 0 | 0 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points 4 or more tries – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points |
Matches :
12 June 2016 15:00Madagascar 24–15 ZambiaMatch centreStade Mahamasina, Antananarivo, Madagascar Referee: Gauthier 0zoux (Mauritius)
15 June 2016 15:00Zambia 3–54 Senegal (1 BP)Match centreStade Mahamasina, Antananarivo, Madagascar Referee: Gauthier 0zoux (Mauritius)
19 June 2016 15:00(1 BP) Madagascar 24–30 SenegalMatch centreStade Mahamasina, Antananarivo, Madagascar Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) :

#### Pool B

* Advances to Round 2, Div 1A
* Advances to Round 2, Div 1B
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | Tunisia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 15 | +78 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 63 | −38 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Botswana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 63 | −40 | 1 | 1 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points 4 or more tries – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points |
Matches :
26 June 2016 16:00(1 BP) Tunisia 43–10 BotswanaMatch centre ReportBen Jannet stadium, Monastir, Tunisia Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Sylvain Mane (Senegal)
29 June 2016 16:00(1 BP) Botswana 13–20 Ivory CoastMatch centre ReportBen Jannet stadium, Monastir, Tunisia Attendance: 800 Referee: Constant Cap (Kenya)
2 July 2016 22:00(1 BP) Tunisia 50–5 Ivory CoastMatch centre ReportBen Jannet stadium, Monastir, Tunisia Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Vivien Praderie (France) :

#### Final

The two pool winners contested the final, with both teams advancing to the 2017 Africa Gold Cup.
* 12 November 2016 15:00
| Senegal | 15–14 | Tunisia |
| | Report | |
* Ben Jannet stadium, Monastir, Tunisia Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Constant Cap (Kenya)

### Round 1B: 2016 Africa Cup Division 1C

Africa Cup Division 1C was contested by three teams in a round-robin tournament. Cameroon were meant to compete but withdrew from the tournament after it was rescheduled for a later date. The tournament was held in Casablanca, Morocco.
* Advances to Round 2, Div 1B
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | Morocco | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 13 | +108 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 74 | −33 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Mauritius | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 99 | −75 | 0 | 0 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points 4 or more tries – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points |
Matches :
10 July 2016 17:00Mauritius 3–68 Morocco (1 BP)Match centre ReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 1,700 Referee: Salem Attalah (France)
13 July 2016 17:00(1 BP) Nigeria 31–21 MauritiusMatch centre ReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Akram Garchi (Tunisia)
16 July 2016 17:00(1 BP) Morocco 53–10 NigeriaMatch centre ReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Bahroun Haykel (Tunisia) :

## Round 2

The second round will see the five highest finishers of the six teams in the Gold Cup, Kenya, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, progress to the 2018 Gold Cup, with the last place side, Senegal, relegated to the Silver Division and eliminated from World Cup qualification. The Winner of Silver Cup, Morocco, was the first team to earn their place in the 2018 Gold Cup.

### Round 2A: 2017 Africa Gold Cup

* Advances to Round 3
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | diff | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | Namibia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 272 | 64 | +208 | 5 | 25 |
| 2 | Kenya | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 226 | 135 | +91 | 4 | 18 |
| 3 | Uganda | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 190 | 126 | +64 | 2 | 16 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 91 | 272 | −181 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 111 | 157 | −46 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Senegal | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 75 | 211 | −136 | 1 | 1 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points 4 or more tries – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points |
Matches :
24 June 2017 17:00(1 BP) Kenya 33–33 UgandaReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)
24 June 2017 16:00Senegal 16–28 Zimbabwe (1 BP)ReportStade Iba Mar Diop, Dakar Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)
1 July 2017 16:00(1 BP) Senegal 16–17 UgandaReportStade Iba Mar Diop, Dakar Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Sébastien Minery (France)
1 July 2017 19:00Tunisia 7–53 Namibia (1 BP)ReportBen Jannet Stadium, Monastir Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Cédric Marchat (France)
8 July 2017 15:00(1 BP) Kenya 100–10 TunisiaReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Attendance: 4,100 Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
8 July 2017 15:00(1 BP) Namibia 95–0 SenegalReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
15 July 2017 13:00(1 BP) Kenya 45–25 SenegalReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)
15 July 2017 15:00(1 BP) Uganda 78–17 TunisiaKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Referee: Lesego Legoete (South Africa)
15 July 2017 15:00(1 BP) Namibia 31–26 Zimbabwe (1 BP)ReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
22 July 2017 14:00Uganda 24–48 Namibia (1 BP)ReportKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
22 July 2017 15:00Zimbabwe 22–41 Kenya (1 BP)ReportHartsfield Rugby Ground, Bulawayo Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Lesego Legoete (South Africa)
29 July 2017 15:00Zimbabwe 23–31 TunisiaReportPolice Grounds, Harare Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
29 July 2017 15:00(1 BP) Namibia 45–7 KenyaReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
5 August 2017 16:00(1 BP) Uganda 38–12 ZimbabweReportKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
5 August 2017 17:00Tunisia 26–18 SenegalReportBen Jannet Stadium, Monastir Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Adrien Descottes (France) :

### Round 2B: 2017 Africa Silver Cup

The 2017 Africa Silver Cup was contested by four teams in a knockout format. The tournament was held in Casablanca, Morocco.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 5 July 2017 – Casablanca | 5 July 2017 – Casablanca |
| Ivory Coast | 58 |
| Ivory Coast | 58 | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca |
| Botswana | 25 | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca |
| Botswana | 25 | Morocco | 8 |
| 5 July 2017 – Casablanca | 5 July 2017 – Casablanca | | Morocco | 8 |
| 5 July 2017 – Casablanca | 5 July 2017 – Casablanca | Ivory Coast | 3 |
| Morocco | 57 | Ivory Coast | 3 |
| Madagascar | 33 | | |
| Madagascar | 33 | Third place play-off | Third place play-off |
| | | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca | 8 July 2017 – Casablanca |
| | | Botswana | 24 |
| | | Madagascar | 47 |
Matches :
5 July 2017 16:00Ivory Coast 58–25 BotswanaReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 800 Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
5 July 2017 18:00Morocco 57–33 MadagascarReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Cedric Clave (France)
8 July 2017 15:30Botswana 24–47 MadagascarReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 600 Referee: Cedric Clave (France)
8 July 2017 17:30Morocco 8–3 Ivory CoastReportCOC stadium, Casablanca, Morocco Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France) :

## Round 3: 2018 Africa Gold Cup

Six teams will contest the 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup and the final round of the African qualification, with the winner qualifying as Africa 1. The second placed team, Africa 2, will advance to the repechage tournament.
* Qualifies as Africa 1
* Advances to Repechage
| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | diff | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | Namibia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 347 | 69 | +278 | 5 | 25 |
| 2 | Kenya | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 206 | 135 | +71 | 1 | 17 |
| 3 | Uganda | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 160 | 172 | −12 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 279 | −213 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 139 | 162 | −23 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | Morocco | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 96 | 197 | −101 | 1 | 3 |
| Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points Draw – 2 points 3 or more tries than the opponent – 1 point Loss within 7 points – 1 point Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points |
Matches :
16 June 2018 13:00Zimbabwe 23–23 MoroccoReportPolice Grounds, Harare Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
16 June 2018 15:30(1 BP) Namibia 55–6 UgandaReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
23 June 2018 16:00(1 BP) Namibia 118–0 TunisiaReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
23 June 2018 18:00(1 BP) Morocco 24–28 KenyaReportCOC stadium, Casablanca Attendance: 800 Referee: Sébastien Minery (France)
30 June 2018 14:00Kenya 45–36 ZimbabweReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
30 June 2018 17:00Morocco 7–63 Namibia (1 BP)ReportCOC stadium, Casablanca Attendance: 600 Referee: Adrien Descottes (France)
7 July 2018 14:00Kenya 38–22 UgandaReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Attendance: 3,200 Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
7 July 2018 17:00Tunisia 18–14 Zimbabwe (1 BP)ReportBoujemaa El-Kemiti stadium, Béja Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Jonathan Dufort (France)
4 August 2018 14:00(1 BP) Uganda 67–12 TunisiaReportKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
4 August 2018 16:00Zimbabwe 28–58 Namibia (1 BP)ReportPolice Grounds, Harare Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
11 August 2018 14:00(1 BP) Kenya 67–0 TunisiaReportRFUEA Ground, Nairobi Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Julien Castaignede (France)
11 August 2018 16:00Uganda 47–29 MoroccoReportKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
18 August 2018 14:00Uganda 18–38 Zimbabwe (1 BP)ReportKyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
18 August 2018 16:00(1 BP) Namibia 53–28 KenyaReportHage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
18 August 2018 18:00(1 BP) Tunisia 36–13 MoroccoReportJemmal Stadium, Jemmal Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Thomas Charabas (France) :