Financial struggles fail to derail Botswana as national side returns from last year’s withdrawal to dominate Lesotho and Eswatini
BONGANI MALUNGA
Botswana completed a remarkable turnaround at the 2026 BOLESWA Tri-Nations Rugby 15s tournament, shrugging off difficult preparations and financial constraints to emerge champions in Eswatini. The triumph carried added significance for Botswana after the national side withdrew from the same competition last year, making this year’s title a story of redemption as much as sporting dominance.
Despite entering the tournament on the back of preparations hampered by limited finances, Botswana produced two commanding performances against Lesotho and hosts Eswatini to sweep aside their regional rivals.
TITLE AMBITIONS
Botswana announced their title ambitions with a crushing 52-5 victory over Lesotho on October 28, immediately putting themselves in a strong position to challenge for the crown. They saved their most emphatic performance for the decisive encounter against Eswatini on Saturday, October 31.
Facing the hosts, Botswana showed little sign of the off-field difficulties that had disrupted their build-up, running riot in a comprehensive 71-5 victory to seal the championship. Across the two matches, Botswana accumulated an imposing 123 points while conceding only 10, underlining the gulf they created between themselves and their opponents during the tournament.
SHORTAGES
This time, even financial shortages during the pre-tournament period could not prevent the team from travelling, competing and ultimately returning home with the title. The emphatic nature of the two victories will also provide encouragement ahead of next year’s tournament, when Botswana will have the added responsibility of defending the crown on home soil.
Botswana is scheduled to host the 2027 edition of the BOLESWA Tri-Nations, giving the newly crowned champions an opportunity to defend their title in front of a home crowd. After last year’s disappointment, Botswana’s return to the competition could hardly have been scripted better, from withdrawal to regional champions in the space of a year.