USA based William Otondi in as Kenya Chipu name final squad for Barthes Trophy

Curtis Olago, head coach of the men's national rugby U20 15s side Kenya Chipu, has named the final 28 man squad that will represent the country in the 2023 Rugby Afrique U20 Barthes Cup that will take place in Nairobi.

The tournament, which serves as the Africa U20 Championship will be played from 22nd to 30th April at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kenya Harlequins' Laban Kipsang, who is one of three returning players from the 2022 squad that finished third, will captain the team seeking to reclaim glory on home soil where they won in 2019 and 2021.

Mwamba's Felix Chacha and Strathmore Leos Stanslous Shikoli will be the two other players picked from 2021.

USA based William Otondi has also been included in the squad for duty.

Despite the challenge of having a large number of newbies, Olago promised the team to give their best once the tournament gets underway.

"We go in a bit green because of inexperience as only three players will be back with the team selected for this year. Nonetheless, it is a group comprising of very good players who have worked hard so far. We only have a few areas to polish and we will be ready for our rivals," the head coach said.

"We know the challenge posed by Namibia and Zimbabwe who have been training since last year but our work is be creative around our situation and come up with the best winning formula," he added.

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The Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Cup returns to Nairobi for a fourth time this April.

It will bring together eight of Africa’s leading U20 sides who will battle it out for the overall title and a ticket to this year’s World Rugby Junior Trophy which will also take place in Nairobi in July this year.

Leading the charge in Nairobi will be defending champions Zimbabwe, last year’s beaten finalists Namibia, hosts Kenya and Madagascar.

Other teams that will be in Nairobi include Uganda, Zambia, Tunisia and the Ivory Coast.

Kenya will then host the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 for the second time from 15-30 July, having previous staged the tournament in 2009.

Kenya automatically qualify for WRJT as hosts.

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Final Squad

Raymond Chacha (Strathmore Leos), George Otieno (Shamas), Gaylord Ngasi (Daystar Falcons), Eugene Etale (Unattached), Stanslous Shikoli (Strathmore Leos), Laban Kipsang (Kenya Harlequin, Captain), Iddo Kuta (Kenya Harlequin), William Otondi (Binghampton University, USA), Patrick Wainaina (Kenya Harlequin), Eddy Wambugu (Daystar Falcons), Raphael Wanga (Zetech Oaks), Felix Chacha Masega ( Mwamba), Mike Wamalwa (Catholic Monks), David Mwangi (Kenya Harlequin), Victor Mola (Strathmore Leos), Jeremy Odhiambo (Catholic Monks), Brian Makaya (Mean Machine), Wycliffe Ogutu (Daystar Falcons), James Asanga (Menengai Oilers), Jacktone Omondi (Kabras Sugar), Zephenes OBwanga (Catholic Monks), Faran Juma (Kenya Harlequin), Claude Kennedy (Blak Blad), Dennis Kisungu (Strathmore Leos), Mike Oduor (Daystar Falcons), Ahona Victor (Blak Blad), John Asega ( South Coast Pirates), Brian Mwendwa ( Strathmore Leos)