World Cup bound Kenya Chipu savour Barthes Cup glory
Sports
By
Washington Onyango
| Aug 13, 2026
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.
READ MORE
Travel research findings offer cash-saving tips
KISM calls for stronger procurement laws and oversight
Farmers push to declassify miraa as a drug, eye more export markets
EPRA assistant director Silas Cheboi dies
Tech firm unveils Kenya's first one-stop tech centre
Why cereal growers warn Kenya is facing a food crisis
Why only 1 in 5 project managers trust Africa's sustainability plans to work
Taiwan chokes mobile internet speeds in drill for Chinese attack
Shipping professionals urge ports' resilience to weather global headwinds
KCB shareholders to get Sh9.64b interim dividend as net profit rises to Sh36.1b
“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.
Chipu had already made their intentions clear when they defeated Zimbabwe 35-21 in the semi-finals. The performance gave the team confidence going into the final and showed that they had the quality to handle pressure.
Ng’ombe said the team’s ability to remain calm was important in securing the title.
“We knew it would not be easy, but we trusted ourselves and stayed together as a team,” he said.
The fourth title moves Kenya ahead of Namibia as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Chipu previously won the trophy in 2019, 2021 and 2024 before adding another title in 2026.
Ng’ombe feels the achievement is bigger than simply adding another trophy to Kenya’s collection.
“It means a lot to us as players and to Kenya. We came here with a clear target and we have achieved it,” the captain said.
The World Rugby Junior Trophy qualification now gives the young Kenyans another challenge to look forward to. It will also provide an opportunity for several players to gain experience that could help them progress into the senior national team, the Simbas.
“We are happy with the title, but this is not the end. We now have the World Rugby Junior Trophy and we have to prepare well for it,” Ng’ombe said.