Namibia's Under-20 national rugby team received an official send-off on Thursday morning ahead of the 2026 World Rugby U20 Challenger, taking place in Santiago, Chile, from 2 to 17 October.

The Young Namibians will compete alongside seven other nations as they aim to make an impact on the international stage.

Drawn into Group A, Namibia will face Canada, Portugal, and Belgium in the pool phase.

During the send-off hosted by the Namibia Sport Commission, Namibia Rugby Union Vice President Johan Diergaardt called on the squad to recognize the honor of wearing the national jersey, urging the players to give everything to make the country proud on the global stage.

Namibia Sport Commission Chief Administrator Dr. Freddy Mwiya emphasized that international exposure is crucial, stating that the primary goal is for the team to represent Namibia proudly while competing at the highest level.

The tournament comes following Namibia's previous U20 campaign, which concluded with a loss to Kenya in the Barthes Cup.

Reflecting on that performance, Head Coach Johannes Zaayman noted that the setback served as a valuable learning experience for both the technical team and the players. He expressed confidence that the squad has addressed those key areas, adding that the forward pack is ready and the players fully grasp what is required in Santiago.

Namibia will kick off its group stage against Canada on 2 October, followed by a fixture against Portugal on 7 October, before concluding its pool matches against Belgium on 12 October.