Kenya Chipu players celebrate after winning the 2026 Barthes Cup in Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday . [Rugby Africa Media, Standard]
Kenya’s under-20 rugby team, Chipu, are savouring a record fourth Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy after completing an impressive campaign with a 33-14 win over Namibia in the final in Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday.
The victory at Muteesa II Stadium in Kampala not only gave Kenya the continental crown but also secured their place at the World Rugby Junior Trophy, giving the young players another chance to test themselves on the international stage.
For captain Justine Ng’ombe, the achievement was the reward for a team that stayed focused despite facing strong opposition.
“The Namibians came hard at us, but we managed to control the game,” Ng’ombe said.
The captain admitted that Namibia gave Kenya a much tougher challenge than expected, especially after watching their semi-final against Tunisia.
“We didn’t expect that they would be this tough, considering that they didn’t play particularly well against Tunisia in the semi-finals,” he said.
Kenya, however, showed why they had emerged as the team to beat in the tournament. Their forwards provided a strong base while the backs made good use of the opportunities created.