RUGBY: Kenya to host 2019 Barthes Cup

Mean Machine's James Kang'ethe of UON is tackled by Ryan Onyango of Kenyatta University player during rugby league final at UoN Grounds on Saturday Oct 27, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya will host pool A fixtures of the 2019 Barthes Cup, the African men’s Under-20 rugby tournament, set for March 27 and 30.

“Rugby Africa have confirmed that Kenya will be hosting the Pool A matches of the 2019 U20 Barthes Cup,” Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) said in a statement. 

“Earlier this year, Participating Unions had been asked to bid to host this tournament,” added KRU.  In pool A, Kenya’s team, Chipu will face Tunisia in their first match on March 27. A win against the North Africans could see the Paul Odera-coached side set up a date with either Senegal or defending champions Namibia in the decider. 

Pool A champions will book a slot at the 2019 Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament set for Brazil. 

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will host pool B matches on April 6 and 13. Other teams in the pool are Morocco, Ivory Coast and Madagascar.