Zimbabwe qualify for first Rugby World Cup since 1991
This will be Zimbabwe's first appearance in the rugby showpiece since 1991.
The door is still open for Namibia to book their ticket to what would be an eighth consecutive World Cup.
They face the United Arab Emirates in a play-off ahead of final qualifiers in Dubai in November.
The last time Zimbabwe made it to the finals, they lost their three matches against Ireland (55-11), Scotland (51-12) and Japan (52-8).
Australia host the 2027 World Cup. - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Spanish harmony to battle English resilience in Women's Euro final
Soccer Football - A combination picture shows Spain coach Tome Montserrat, the women's Euro trophy and England manager Sarina Wiegman ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Final. July 26, 2025. REUTERS BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) -Sunday's final of the Women's Euros in Basel pitches the two best European teams of the current generation against each other, as a unified Spain side bristling with technique and intelligence takes on an equally talented England side that never gives up. Both sides have overcome adversity on their way to the final, with Spain almost losing playmaker Aitana Bonmati to a pre-tournament meningitis scare, and Sarina Wiegman's England comingclose to elimination twice in the knockout round, only for late heroics to see them through. "We need to be at our best to beat Spain. I think they need to be at their best to beat us, too," England captain Leah Williamson told a media conference on Saturday. "I think there's a lot of respect between the two teams, and I'd be hesitant to rule an underdog in this scenario." Both sides said that all 23 squad members were fit and available for selection on Sunday, setting the stage for what is expected to be an intriguing battle of skill, wit and nerves. Defending champions England may not have played particularly well in their five games so far, but they have displayed an uncanny ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the knockout stage, first with a shootout win over Sweden and then with a come-from-behind extra-time victory over Italy. "I know that we've left it late," Williamson admitted. "(That was) definitely not the plan, we'd really like to wrap things up a little earlier and a little easier if we could." Spainhave also gotten off to several slow starts, but they have still run out convincing winners in their five games to date, eventually finding a way to break down their opponents. "We have a particular way of playing, of training, we are very confident. Even if we won the games, there are things always that we can correct, things we see on video that we practice, and that's our line of work," Spain captain Irene Paredes said. The Spain team for Sunday's final is a much more harmonious one than the one that took beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in 2023, when several of the best Spanish players boycotted the tournament in a dispute withcoaching staff and their federation. Though Spain won that game 1-0 to claim their first major title, Montse Tome's squad has given a much more unified impression in Switzerland, with none of the negativity that surrounded them at that World Cup. "(This tournament) shows the change we are making, and right now I believe that, for all their efforts, the squad deserves to win," Tome said. "When you are in the elite football world that's not always the case, but we will do everything to win the final tomorrow." Spain's only defeat in their last 14 games came at the hands of Sarina Wiegman's side in the Nations League in February, and they will be slight favourites for Sunday's decider, but Paredes said such labels make little difference when the game kicks off. "I think both teams deserve to be in the final. We wanted to be there, at the beginning of the tournament that was our objective, to play six games. We're on our way. Tomorrow is number six," she told reporters. "We don't like this idea of being favourites. We know what it takes to be here, what we have to suffer, and we have to be focused." Sunday's final takes place at St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, with kick-off at 1800 CET (1600 GMT). (Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Jan Harvey)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-James to bolster England squad when they look to make history in Euro final against Spain
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Final - England Training - Sportanlage Au, Zurich, Switzerland - July 26, 2025 England's Lauren James during training REUTERS/Matthew Childs BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) -England coach Sarina Wiegman expects to have winger Lauren James in her squad for Sunday's Euro 2025 final against Spain, boosting her team's quest to build on the legacy they began by winning the continental title three years ago. James, who has 33 goals in nine games for England including a double in their 4-0 group stage victory over the Netherlands, had been doubtful after injuring her ankle in their 2-1 semi-final win over Italy. "We had 23 players on the pitch today, and everyone came through," Wiegman said at Saturday's pre-match press conference. "If everyone recovers well, then we have everyone fit for tomorrow." England defeated Germany 2-1 in extra time in the 2022 final at Wembley, and the beautiful thing about that moment, said captain Leah Williamson, is that the players know they will likely not experience "something like that again in terms of the change, the story and the journey". But it was the start of an excellent run for England, who were edged by Spain in their first appearance in a World Cup final in 2023, and now can become the first England football team to win a title on foreign soil. "You don't want to be a flash in the pan, a memory, and before 2022 we said it was the start of something so we're still trying to play our role in that," Williamson said. "It's a really privileged time to be part of this team. The opportunity to be the first this and that is a big motivator but more because we know what it does for women's football and continues the legacy that we've already started." Sunday's final at St Jakob-Park is expected to draw a record viewing audience in England, after the team's dramatic semi-final win over Italy in extra time gave British broadcaster ITV its biggest audience of the year. Williamson said she and her teammates are aware of what another Euro victory would mean. "We're very connected to what it means to the nation. As connected as we can be being away from home," she said. "The opportunity of (Sunday) and what's on offer is the best thing in football. We wanted to be here until the end and have the chance to fight for the trophy and you can't do that until the final. "We don't carry the weight of it and how much it means to people but we're aware of it because it means the same to us. We have a squad of excited, focused players." Williamson, who injured her ankle during England's quarter-final win over Sweden, was asked about playing through pain. "I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say that as long as we get the green light, we would play through anything," she said. "My ankle is great." (Reporting by Lori Ewing; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia to host 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup in KL
MALAYSIA has secured the hosting rights for the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, announced by Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan. The decision was made during the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) council meeting in Hatyai, Thailand. 'ISTAF decided to give Malaysia the right to host the 2026 World Cup based on its record of holding international championships and in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026,' Mohd Sumali said in a statement. This will be Malaysia's third time hosting the event, following previous editions in 2011 and 2024. In addition to the hosting announcement, Mohd Sumali reiterated PSM's opposition to ISTAF's proposed rule change regarding the tekong's service circle. 'It will cause the uniqueness and artistry of the tekong position to disappear, which is saddening. My view, representing Malaysia, (is) that we should retain existing rules to preserve the art of the tekong's service,' he added. The PSM president also expressed dissatisfaction with the packed schedule of the ongoing 2025 Thai King's Cup, calling it unreasonable and detrimental to player performance. - Bernama
