Following the conclusion of the National U18 trials held at the RFUEA Grounds on 8th September 2024. The U18 coaching team has finalized the selection for the final 60 players.
We caught up with Coach Paul Odera and these were his sentiments on the journey to the final squad, “It has been an involving and rewarding process getting the top sixty players across the country for the Kenya U18 team 2024. It has taken 7 months of effort from Regional Development Officers, teachers, guardians, and parents to put it all together. I am sincerely grateful to all the stakeholders who have made this possible.
The initial list had 480 players. i.e 60 players were chosen across 8 regions in Kenya from the regional games and international schools tournaments. Coaching clinics and trials were then conducted by the head coach in 7 regions and the international schools over two months in May and June. The numbers were whittled down to 240 players, who were selected to take part in a regional competition.
“After the regional competition played at the RFUEA grounds on the 8th of September, 60 players (4 players for each position) were selected to be part of the U18 squad in 2024. They will then be further cut down to 30 players to go on tour in 2025. To be eligible for selection:
- Players needed to submit their documents for verification
- Players should have been born on or after 31st July 2006
Half of the squad of 60 need to be eligible to play for the U18 team in 2025. There will be mental wellness support through the KRU facilitated by Rowena Tirop. A virtual group session for teachers, parents, guardians, and players who did not make the team will be held on Monday, September 30th. Please get in touch with the team manager Joseph Guchu on kenyaunder18@gmail.com to get more information on the mental wellness session, and individual statistics from Tisini data analysts.” concluded Odera
Below is the squad of 60 players.
| Playing Number | Playing Position | Player name | Institution name |
| 1 | Loosehead Prop | Derryl Johnnie Mwanga | Jeffreys School |
| 1 | Loosehead Prop | Fortune Jiveri Saina | Tambach High School |
| 1 | Loosehead Prop | Peter Mbugua | Mangu High School |
| 1 | Loosehead Prop | Victor Kipkoech Chumba | St. Patrick’s Iten |
| 2 | Hooker | Monda Tsuyoshi | St. Christophers’ |
| 2 | Hooker | Peter Mutahi Njuguna | All Saints Embu High School |
| 2 | Hooker | Max Oliver Haysom | Hillcrest |
| 2 | Hooker | Wayne Rooney Otieno | Alliance High School |
| 3 | Tighthead Prop | Spencer Finley | Rift Valley Academy |
| 3 | Tighthead Prop | Jibril Lugongo | Koyonzo High School |
| 3 | Tighthead Prop | Innocent Indeche | St. Marys Yala |
| 3 | Tighthead Prop | Gilbert Magak | Maseno School |
| 4 | Lock | Jaden Paul Oyier | Maseno School |
| 4 | Lock | Arnold Okemwa | Alliance High School |
| 4 | Lock | Derrick Osano Okemwa | Mangu High School |
| 4 | Lock | Peter Delville | St. Patrick’s Iten |
| 5 | Lock | Louis Kipkorir | Lenana School |
| 5 | Lock | Elkanah Muyaga | Vihiga High School |
| 5 | Lock | Daniel Musyoka | Kitui High School |
| 5 | Lock | Joshua Jotham Warui Muhamed | Dawamu School |
| 6 | Blindside Flanker | Benard Anyonje Omukhulu | Chavakali School |
| 6 | Blindside Flanker | Nigel Aggrey Okoko | Moi Forces Academy |
| 6 | Blindside Flanker | Eugine Kiplagat Kibii | St. Patrick’s Iten |
| 6 | Blindside Flanker | Clide Kimaya | Vihiga High School |
| 7 | Openside Flanker | Paul Madior Ajang | All Saints Embu High School |
| 7 | Openside Flanker | Bull Ball Bull | All Saints Embu High School |
| 7 | Openside Flanker | Peter Wanyoike | Senende High School |
| 7 | Openside Flanker | Shapan Tyron Ochieng Oluoch | Kakamega School |
| 8 | Number 8 | Ashraf Juma Kwambala | Malindi High School |
| 8 | Number 8 | Dennis Bajila Bashora | Marafa Boys |
| 8 | Number 8 | Sam Imani Wala | Rosslyn |
| 8 | Number 8 | Strafford Nyambane | Kisii High School |
| 9 | Scrum Half | Daniel Wafula | Butula High School |
| 9 | Scrum Half | Ezekiel Ray Apida | Kabianga High School |
| 9 | Scrum Half | Roman Getonto | Alliance High School |
| 9 | Scrum Half | Rohan Neel Shah | Intl Sschool of Kenya ( ISK) |
| 10 | Fly Half | Victor Wawire | Vihiga High School |
| 10 | Fly Half | Jeff Andigo Otieno | Ofafa Jericho |
| 10 | Fly Half | Josephat Karanja | All Saints Embu High School |
| 10 | Fly Half | Junior Katama | Barani Secondary School |
| 11 | Left Wing | Melvin Mweresa | Vihiga High School |
| 11 | Left Wing | Abel Agura | Cardinal Otunga |
| 11 | Left Wing | Derrick Mutisya Makove | Kitondo School |
| 11 | Left Wing | Andrew Mwangi Wachira | Intl School of Kenya ( ISK) |
| 12 | Inside Centre | Oelofse Jean Pierre | Braeburn Garden Estate |
| 12 | Inside Centre | Darker Lyndon Alexender | Hillcrest |
| 12 | Inside Centre | Seth Muiru Maina | St. Anthony’s Kitale |
| 12 | Inside Centre | Brison Okara Makori | Kakamega School |
| 13 | Outside Centre | Diaoune Al-Gassime Willard | Braeburn Garden Estate |
| 13 | Outside Centre | Emmanuel Maina | Moi Forces Academy |
| 13 | Outside Centre | Peter Otieno | All Saints Embu High School |
| 13 | Outside Centre | Garang Geu | All Saints Embu High School |
| 14 | Right Wing | Chris Kenneth Obuya | Agoro Sare |
| 14 | Right Wing | Asaph Kiptoo | Mangu High School |
| 14 | Right Wing | Abel Kiplagat | Lenana School |
| 14 | Right Wing | Nahason Galgalu | ODA secondary school |
| 15 | Fullback | Alvin Kiplangat Rono | Kapsabet High School |
| 15 | Fullback | Calistus Emmanuel Wamune | Chavakali School |
| 15 | Fullback | Simon Kipkogei Kiprono | St. Patrick’s Iten |
| 15 | Fullback | Matrix Otoki | Kisii High School |
