Botswana Crushes Eswatini 71-7 to Win Tri-Nations
Botswana clinched the BOLESWA Tri-Nations Rugby 15s title with a 71-7 win over Eswatini in Mbabane.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Other Sports
Botswana defeated Eswatini 71-7 in the final match of the BOLESWA Tri-Nations Rugby 15s, played at the Prince of Wales Sports Ground in Mbabane. The win gave Botswana the championship, while Eswatini finished the three-nation competition without a victory.
Why it matters
The result capped a tournament in which Botswana dominated both opponents and secured the title outright. For Eswatini, the loss meant a winless campaign that left it at the bottom of the standings.
Botswana finished with four match points from two victories and a tournament points difference of plus 111. Eswatini ended with no wins from two matches and a points difference of minus 66, with Lesotho placed second on one win and one defeat.
The players
Botswana national rugby team
Botswana's national men's rugby union side, which won the BOLESWA Tri-Nations title without a loss in its two matches.
Eswatini national rugby team
Eswatini's national rugby side, which finished the tournament winless and bottom of the standings.
The details
Botswana ran in multiple points to defeat Eswatini 71-7 in the final. Earlier in the tournament, Eswatini lost 15-13 to Lesotho on October 24, and Botswana beat Lesotho 52-5 on October 28.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: Eswatini lost 15-13 to Lesotho in its opening match.
October 28, 2026: Botswana beat Lesotho 52-5.
November 1, 2026: Botswana beat Eswatini 71-7 in the final.
2027: Botswana will host the next edition of the tournament.
Season Trajectory
The BOLESWA Tri-Nations is a regional competition among three southern African rugby nations, and Botswana's dominant 2026 campaign positions it to host the 2027 edition. The tournament's standings show a clear gap between the top side and the two teams below it.
Botswana's title gives it the BOLESWA Tri-Nations championship for 2026 and the hosting rights for 2027. Eswatini's winless record means it enters future editions needing to improve on a 15-13 loss to Lesotho and a 71-7 defeat.
The takeaway
Botswana's dominance in the 2026 BOLESWA Tri-Nations shows how a single side can separate itself from regional rivals within one tournament. Teams trailing by wide margins will need to address their scoring and defensive gaps before the 2027 edition in Botswana.
What happens next
Botswana will host the 2027 edition of the BOLESWA Tri-Nations Rugby 15s.
Further reading
For more regional rugby coverage, explore Other Sports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of Swaziland.
