Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy celebrate record win over Namibia
Rome , Italy - 15 March 2025; Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada before the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Rome: The Gonzalo Quesada Coached Italy defeated Namibia by a record margin on Friday. Playing in Windhoek, Namibia, the visiting side were 73-6 winners. The match was Italy’s first of their tour to Africa. The Italians face the Springboks in South Africa on July 05 and July 12.
Italy’s 73-6 win over Namibia in Windhoek was the largest in history. It saw Italy improving on their wins over the Africa no 2 ranked country from Rugby World Cups 2023 and 2019. Italy overcame Namibia 52-8 in France 2023 and 47-22 in Japan 2099.
International competition between Italy began in 1991. Italy toured Namibia in preparation for Rugby World Cup 1991. The tour saw Namibia completing a home series win over the Italians. Namibia won 17-6 in Walvis Bay and 33-19 in Windhoek.
Namibia’s focus shifts to the big picture: the Rugby World Cup. Namibia will compete in the Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda. The Namibians face Senegal on July 08 in a Quarter Finals. A win would see them facing either Algeria or Cotê d’Ivoire in the Semi Finals.
The winner of the Rugby Africa Cup will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 as Africa 1. The runner-up will progress to an Africa / Asia play-off match with the possibility of playing in the repechage tournament to determine the 24th, and final, participant.
