Kenya to hoist Barthes Cup matches at Nyayo next month

• The tournament returns to Kenya for a fourth month
• Chipu won in 2019 but finished third in 2021
• Eight teams will be involved in the tournament

Rugby Africa has confirmed that Kenya has been given the hosting rights for this year’s Under-20 Barthes Trophy which returns to Nairobi for a fourth time this April after previous editions in 2019,2021 & 2022.

The tournament, which serves as the Africa U20 Championship will be played from 22nd to 30th April at the Nyayo National Stadium and brings together eight of Africa’s leading U20 sides battling it out for the overall title and a ticket to this year’s World Rugby Junior Trophy which also takes place in Nairobi in July this year.

Leading the charge in Nairobi are defending champions Zimbabwe, last year’s beaten finalists Namibia, hosts Kenya who finished third and Madagascar.

Other teams that will be in Nairobi are Uganda, Zambia, Tunisia and the Ivory Coast.

The tournament will be played on a knockout basis with over three match days on April 22, 26 and 30.

Kenya’s team Chipu already in training 

Meanwhile, Kenya’s team, Chipu, under the tutelage of award winning coach Curtis Olago has already been assembled to start training for the tournament.

A 39 man Kenya U20 squad has been in nonresidential training to prepare for the tournament.

The squad has seven returning players from the side that finished third in last year’s tournament in Nairobi including David Mwangi, Mathias Osimbo, Felix Masega Chacha, Stanslous Shikoli, Laban Kipsang, George Otieno and Makaya Brian. Another two players, Zephenes Obwanga and Iddo Kuta were part of the 2022 training squad.

Team Manager Peter Mutai said, “Training has been going on well. We are however monitoring the progress of Mathias Osimbo who is carrying an injury sustained during his side’s Kenya Cup fixture a few weeks ago. We will make a decision in the coming days.”

The final squad will be announced closer to the tournament.

Chipu Training Squad:

FORWARDS: Raymond Chacha (Strathmore Leos),

Dennis Kisingu (Strathmore Leos), Makaya Brian (Mean

Machine), Collins Ndambo (Daystar Falcons), George

Otieno (Shamas), Mike Oduor (Daystar Falcons), Mark

Lubira (USIU Martials), Jeremy Odhiambo (Catholic

Monks), Gaylord Mgasi (Daystar Falcons), Ogutu Wycliffe (Daystar Falcons), Michael Jayson (Impala Saracens), John Asega (South Coast Pirates), Ahona Victor (Blak

Blad), Andy Cole Omolo (Masinde Muliro), Eugene Etale (Unattached), Eugene Obat (Strathmore Leos), Nathan

Tsindoli (Daystar Falcons), Laban Kipsang (Kenya

Harlequin), Edmond Omondi ( Masinde Muliro), Jackton

Omondi (Kabras Sugar), James Asanga (Menengai

Oilers), Iddo Kuta (Kenya Harlequin), Stanslaus Shikoli (Strathmore Leos), Vincent Omondi (Kenya Harlequin), William Otondi (Binghamton University, USA)

BACKS: Patrick Wainaina (Kenya Harlequin), Zephenes

Obwanga (Catholic Monks), David Nyanginge (Northern

Suburbs), Brian Mwenda (Strathmore Leos), Collins

Munyasa (Impala Saracens), Eddy Wambugu (Daystar

Falcons), Mike Wamalwa (Catholic Monks), Felix Masega

Chacha (Mwamba), Mathias Osimbo (Kabras Sugar),

David Mwangi (Kenya Harlequin), Victor Mola

(Strathmore Leos), Kerry Otieno (Mwamba), Raphael

Wanga (Zetech Oaks), George Omondi (Catholic Monks)