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ZIMBABWE has announced a 28-member provisional squad for the Group B Under-20 Barthés Cup to be hosted in Harare next week.

The Barthés Cup comprises 12 teams and is the only Rugby Africa junior tournament. Namibia were the overall champions in 2018 based on a superior aggregate.

Zimbabwe will host Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Madagascar in Group B.

The venue has now been moved from Harare Sports Club to Prince Edward School.

Zimbabwe Under-20 head coach Farai “Bob” Mahari said: “We are literally one week away from the opening game and are fine tuning the team. We have got a great squad, but it can only as good as it shows up on the day. You know everything looks good until the lights come on and we will find out more about them when the lights come on.”

The squad features the Owuru brothers Matthew and James, who have played for three-time Harare Province Under-21 champions the Pitbulls, and Tonderai Chiwambutsa, who plays for Western Province. The three have all enjoyed successes at schoolboy, provincial and club levels.