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Innocent Kurira, [email protected]

PREPARATIONS for the Barthes Trophy tournament are on, with the announcement of a 37-man squad as the country aims to win the contest three times in a row.
Zimbabwe has won the last two editions of the tournament and will be hoping to defend the title in Harare next month.

The competition is named after the late World Rugby’s Services Manager for Africa, Jean-Luc Barthes.

Organised by Rugby Africa, the Barthes Under-20 Trophy is the official African Rugby Championship for national teams in the age bracket.

The Barthes Trophy has seen a good number of future stars of the African game take part over the years and continues to serve as a talent identification platform and elite player pathway.

The tournament, which serves as Africa’s Under-20 championship, is played on a knockout basis.

The Junior Sables have won the previous two editions of the competition.

In 2022, Zimbabwe were champions after they beat Namibia 19-14 to end a 11-year trophy drought. Last year they won the competition after beating Kenya 28-7.

The Junior Sables will open their Barthes Trophy campaign with a clash with Tunisia on April 20.

Zimbabwe will host the Four-Team tournament at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.

It will run till April 28.

The Junior Sables are the Barthes Trophy defending champions and will be looking to make it three wins in a row after claiming the 2022 and 2023 editions.

The winner of this year’s Barthes Trophy will then join Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States of America or Canada in Pool B of the World Ruby Under-20 Trophy set for July 2 to 17 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Squad

Samuel Edwards, Louange Ujenza Mutimawurukundo, Emmanuel Gabi, Tawanyasha Bwanya, Thabani Ndlovu, Joseph Benning, Innocent Dekete, Allan Mawunga, Kholuwani Moyo, Tinotenda Rusike, Emmanuel Magutakuona, Alex Kern, Brendon Jameson, Shammah Jackson, Benoni Nhekairo, Tatenda Runyowa, Kudzai Waylen Tsvakirai, Huntsmann Greaves, Tadiwanashe Unganai, Wayne Kunaka, Tadiwa Maradze, Kaitano Tembo, Tadiwa Madya, Cody Grant, Tanaka Mupamhadzi, Tafara Dewa, Tatenda Mpagore, Owen Musumhi, Vuyani Ncube, Elias Chitengwa, Giordan Sarpo, Polite Phiri, Edward Sigauke (cvc), Joshua Bekker, Rogers Tayengwa Takudzwa Matsvimbo, Tadiwa Nyamukondiwa.