U20 Barthes Trophy dates announced ahead tournament sheduled for Nairobi
The Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy is set to return to Nairobi for a fourth time this April, after previous successful editions in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
The tournament, which doubles as the Africa U20 Championship, will run from the 22nd to the 30th of April, and will bring together eight of Africa’s leading U20 sides, who will battle it out for the overall title and a coveted ticket to this year’s World Rugby Junior Trophy, which will also take place in Nairobi in July.
Countries participating
The participating teams will include defending champions Zimbabwe, last year’s beaten finalists Namibia, the hosts Kenya, and Madagascar, who will all be looking to clinch the trophy. Other teams that will feature in the tournament are Uganda, Zambia, Tunisia, and the Ivory Coast.
The tournament will be played on a knockout basis, with matches spread across three days. The quarterfinals will kick off proceedings on the 22nd of April, followed by the semifinals on the 26th, and the grand finale on the 30th. The Nyayo National Stadium will serve as the tournament’s venue, and it is expected to host an enthusiastic and passionate crowd of rugby supporters.
The Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy serves as a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing talent across the continent. It provides an opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level of international rugby, while also exposing them to different playing styles, cultures, and environments.
Finest talents
The tournament has previously produced some of the continent’s finest rugby talents, who have gone on to represent their countries on the senior national teams, and in professional rugby leagues around the world.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, all eyes will be on Nairobi, as the participating teams gear up to battle it out in what promises to be an exciting and fiercely contested rugby championship.
