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Well that was not OTT at all, Ewie..
For Africa, I hate to say it, but Namibia is a bit of a dead end. The country is just too small (population and economy) and distances too great for a viable domestic league. Namibia is as semi-competitive as they are simply because it's players get decent competition in SA but those players get no time together as a team. I guess all tier 2 and lower countries have this problem.
All African countries have poor economies (relative to the rest of the world) but I hear rugby is very popular in Madagascar and popularity is key to success IMO. Zimbabwe had a pretty established rugby culture at schools level already and could have been a great rugby nation. Just look at the class of players that didn't play for them; Tendai Mtawarira, David Pocock, Brian Mujati and David Denton all test rugby players still active off the top of my head. Zanu PF really ****ed that country up. Kenya have been around the 7's scene for a while now and have claimed a fair few scalps but I have no idea how they are in XV's. I've always thought that if rugby ever took off in Nigeria they could get a scary looking team together with the athletes they have.
For Africa, I hate to say it, but Namibia is a bit of a dead end. The country is just too small (population and economy) and distances too great for a viable domestic league. Namibia is as semi-competitive as they are simply because it's players get decent competition in SA but those players get no time together as a team. I guess all tier 2 and lower countries have this problem.
All African countries have poor economies (relative to the rest of the world) but I hear rugby is very popular in Madagascar and popularity is key to success IMO. Zimbabwe had a pretty established rugby culture at schools level already and could have been a great rugby nation. Just look at the class of players that didn't play for them; Tendai Mtawarira, David Pocock, Brian Mujati and David Denton all test rugby players still active off the top of my head. Zanu PF really ****ed that country up. Kenya have been around the 7's scene for a while now and have claimed a fair few scalps but I have no idea how they are in XV's. I've always thought that if rugby ever took off in Nigeria they could get a scary looking team together with the athletes they have.