2008 A Year of Rugby Part 5

CAR Nations 20th-28th

Benin
Benin did not participate in international rugby in either 2007 and 2008 and thus falls off the ladder.

28th Burundi
Burundi played two matches in 2008, both at home in Bujumbura. The first was against a Belgian Club side made up mainly of Congolese. The Kibubu RFC played in place of the side from Congo who pulled out of the CAR Development Cup, South, Pool A tournament. Burundi went on to lose 5-7 to neighbour Rwanda.

27th Swaziland
Swaziland's only game in 2008 was against Botswana in Gaborone to decide who would move on to the World Cup qualifying matches for Africa. The 7-25 loss eliminated Swaziland.

26th Algeria
Algeria played its first ever international rugby test against Tunisia 'B' in Nabeul. The Algerians won 8-7. They also played club sides in France and look set to enter the CAR competitions soon.

25th Rwanda
Rwanda travelled to Bujumbura to play in the CAR Development Trophy, South, Pool A. They defeated the home side Burundi 7-5. Unfortunately they were unable to play the winner of the other CAR South winner.

24th Mali
Mali played its first international rugby test in 2003. Since then they have failed to make much impression in the local tournaments. in 2008 the team travelled to Accra, Ghana to play in the North Zone, Pool B. All the games were low-scoring affairs, and although they drew 3-3 with Niger they lost their other games.

23rd Chad
Chad first played international rugby in 2006. They won their first ever test match 10-0 against Mali in the CAR Development Trophy Tournament in Accra, Ghana. The Chadians lost their two other games.

22nd-Togo
Togo won two of their three games in the 2007 CAR Castel Beer cup matches in the tournament played in Lagos. They won only one match in this years tournament, thus slipping to 22nd on the African ladder.

21st Ghana
As host of this years CAR Tournament for Africa's minor nations, the Ghanese were expected to do well. They lost to Burkino Faso by one point but it was enough to push them out of the final. They won their other two games comfortably.

20th Burkino Faso
Winners of the CAR Castel Beer Trohpy, North Pool B tournament in 2007, the Fasians were expected to challenge strongly for the title in 2008. They defeated Chad easily in their first game but only just won 9-8 against hosts Ghana in the second. Niger was too strong for them in the final.

For a full list of all the above nations international rugby results go to www.rugbyinternational.net.

Next I will cover Africa from 10th to 19th place