This year’s Barthes Cup takes place in Nairobi from 4th to 7th April at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka.
The tournament is Rugby Africa’s official U20 championship. It pits four teams competing for the overall title and with it, qualification to the World Rugby U20 Trophy.
The four teams in action are defending champions Namibia, hosts Kenya, Tunisia and Senegal.
Namibia:
They have been perennial winners of this tournament. They come to Nairobi with one thing on their mind, to retain the Barthes Cup and once again represent Africa at the World Rugby U20 Trophy taking place in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil from 9th to 21st July.
Kenya:
Chipu, as the Kenyan U20s are affectionately reffered to by their doting fans have risen in prominence at this level over the past few years. They have lost the last three finals to Namibia and will look to point to the reducing margins of defeat as a well as a larger talent pool as reasons to believe they can challenge for the title and return to the World Rugby U20 Trophy for the first time since hosting it in 2009.
Tunisia & Senegal:
Tunisia and Senegal will play in Nairobi by virtue of reaching last year’s second tier Africa U20 final, a fixture saw Tunisia edge 11-8 in extra time.
Little is known of the two sides at the U20 level but they will certainly be in Nairobi, not to make up the numbers, but to compete and rattle the status quo.
The teams are expected to announce their final squads this week.
Barthes Cup Fixtures
Thursday 4 April 2019
M1- Namibia v Senegal – 1.30pm
M2- Kenya v Tunisia – 3.30pm
Sunday 7 April 2019
Playoff
Loser M1 v Loser M2 – 2.00pm
Final
Winner M1 v Winner M2 – 4.00pm
Entry: Ksh 300 per day
