Kenya Under-20 player Brian Omondi is tackled by a Tunisian opponent during a Barthes Cup match in Harare in April/HANDOUT
The Kenya Under-20 rugby team will begin training camps on December 1 in preparation for the 2026 Barthes Trophy in Zimbabwe in April.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Development Officer Ronald Okoth said the early start shows the team’s seriousness and commitment to reclaim continental glory.
“We are starting preparations and talent identification in good time. It will give us at least three months to fine-tune our squad and enable us to be strong contenders for the championship,” said Okoth.
Late preparations had hampered the team’s performance in previous years. The early start, Okoth added, is a strategic shift designed to build a stronger, better-prepared squad.
“In the past, we’ve suffered from rushed preparations. This time, we are laying the groundwork early to ensure our players are ready for international competition,” he added.
The KRU will partner with the Kenya Academy of Sport, which will provide training venues and facilities across selected counties — including Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu and Mombasa.
“It’s a good partnership. The Kenya Academy of Sport will offer not just venues but also quality facilities for our camps. We expect more counties to confirm in due course,” said Okoth.
Following the initial camps, the team will hold further training sessions in December, continuing into January, February and March, with several build-up matches planned before the final squad is named in early April.
The selection process will target current KCSE candidates as well as players featuring in the Eric Shirley Shield, which kicks off later this month.
“We’ll have a large pool of players to choose from. Some of last year’s players are already featuring for Kenya Cup clubs, which gives us a big advantage when we go into international competitions,” noted Okoth.
Kenya finished second in this year’s tournament. The beat Tunisia 29–21 in their opening match, fell 32–22 to Namibia and edged hosts Zimbabwe 21–20.
Okoth believes that with proper structure, planning and the available talent, the team can reclaim the title they last won in 2024 after beating Zimbabwe 28–13 in the final.
“With this new approach, I’m confident we can harness our talent and preparation to be contenders not only next year but for years to come,” said Okoth.
