Rugby: Kenya under 20 upbeat ahead of Brazil contest

[Courtesy]

Kenya under-20 rugby coach Paul Odera has exuded confidence in his charges ahead of 2019 World Junior championship that gets underway in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next month.

Chipu, as they are known, booked a slot to the global showpiece which is World Rugby’s second tier youth competition by virtue of winning the Africa under-20 championship in April. They will be out to make a statement having finished fourth in their last appearance at the tournament in 2009 when it was hosted in Nairobi.

Kenya, who will be Africa’s sole representative at the event, have been drawn in pool A alongside Japan, hosts Brazil and Uruguay.

“Uruguay have been in this tournament for about seven consecutive years. Japan on paper seem to be the strongest team having been relegated from the top tier,” Odera said.

Odera, while speaking yesterday after naming his 26-man traveling squad, said they have done their homework on the trio’s style of play and will be banking on their defense to register good results.

“We have had video analysis sessions of this level of rugby which the current team has not been exposed to before. The pace exhibited by the teams in our pool is going to test us but we are confident in our defense which got us through against Namibia,” added Odera.

Odera, who also doubles up as the men’s senior 15s coach, has retained the bulk of the squad which played at the continental championship with only three changes made. The new faces included are Timothy Okwemba of Masinde Muliro University, Nakuru RFC center John Okoth and South Africa-based Andrew Simiyu.

KCB’s George  Maranga misses out because of academic commitments while injury has ruled out Beldad Ogeta.

Kenya Harlequin prop Bonface Ochieng’ is the captain while Samuel Asati (KCB) and  Dominic Coulson are deputies. Chipu will line up against Uruguay on July 9.