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Tinashe Kusema Zimpapers Sports Hub
JUNIOR Sables coach Shaun De Souza has thrown his weight behind the new-format Barthés Trophy, which he believes will bring the best out of all participants.
The 2026 U20 Barthés Trophy has introduced a new split-tier tournament format featuring Division One and the Performance Division. It will take place at the Mutesa II Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, from August 7-15, 2026.
The changes are expected to provide young players with more competitive matches while creating a clearer pathway for developing rugby nations. Rugby Africa hopes the new structure will create more balanced contests by grouping teams with similar levels of competition.
The Performance Division, which will be the main tournament, will feature top-tier contenders Zimbabwe (Junior Sables), defending champions Namibia, Kenya, and Tunisia.
The Division One category will feature developing and host nations Uganda, Zambia, Madagascar, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The main tournament will kick off at the semi-final stage, with Zimbabwe taking on Kenya while defending champions Namibia square off against Tunisia on August 7.
The winners of the two matches will then meet in the final on August 11, while the losers contest the third-place play-off.
“I think it’s a good initiative from Rugby Africa. It provides a platform for teams in the tournament to play strength on strength,” said the Junior Sables coach.
“It’s no good for a team who won the tournament the year before to come in on day one and play a team and win by 60 points.
“I don’t think the team that is losing by 60 points is learning anything.
“However, if they split the tiers, then both the top and developmental teams will be on equal footing and play strength on strength in the top four.
“This is going to help the standard go up and build competitiveness.
“If you look at the Tier One team pool, Namibia also went on tour this year, while the Kenyans were doing their own inland competitions to build for this event.
“So I think everyone knows what’s up for grabs and is putting in the work and investing in their teams to prepare them for the tournaments,” he said.
De Souza also believes that promotion and relegation provide an incentive for all eight teams, in both competitions, to up their game and do well.
“A qualifier for the winner to a bigger tournament is definitely something to play for and to work towards,” said De Souza.
“This year Namibia are going to Chile to play in the World Rugby Chile Conference, and that was their reward for winning last year’s Barthés Trophy.
“That is their benefit and their bonus for winning the Africa Cup last year.
“So there is definitely a carrot at the end of the stick that is being dangled for all the teams.
“Now, we have to do our best for us to achieve and get the reward at the end of the tournament.”
The Zimbabwe Junior Sables camp made their last stop before leaving for Uganda when the Zimbabwe Rugby union held a send-off ceremony for the team at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
It was during the ceremony, attended by players and their parents, that De Souza named his travelling squad for the Barthés Trophy in Uganda.
The team leaves tomorrow, after which they will square off against Kenya on Friday.
The travelling squad, announced, will be led by co-captains Munangi Kamwendo and Takudzwa Matsvimbo, while the duo of Connor Lovatt and Vimbiso Kasvosve will serve as vice-captains.
“We are fairly happy and satisfied with the squad we have assembled, and the same can be said about the players who made the cut,” said De Souza.
“We are disappointed for those that didn’t make it due to injuries, but it is what it is.
“Rugby is a contact sport.
“We will keep moving, and the focus now will be to go to Uganda and take back our Barthés trophy,” he said.
Zimbabwe will be eager to avenge their Barthés Trophy final loss to Kenya when the two teams meet on Friday.
The East Africans robbed the Junior Sables of their hat-trick of Barthés Trophy titles when they beat Zimbabwe 28-13 in the 2024 final.
Namibia then came back to reclaim the title when they won last year’s round-robin Barthés Trophy tournament.
“We have played Kenya for a couple of years now and we have done our homework,” said the Zimbabwe Under-20 gaffer.
“They have a good spine. Their number eight, Isaac, is going to be lethal.
“They still have Jackson Siketa running the halfback position, and their 12-15 and wing combinations are really good.
“We are definitely looking forward to that encounter, and we will definitely work hard to redeem ourselves and avenge those back-to-back losses at home.
“The only way to do that is to bring the trophy back,” he said.
*Zimbabwe Junior Sables Squad*
Obinna Nweke, Vimbiso Kasvosve, Nyasha Ngwarati, Sibusiso Sibanda, Kudakwashe Kachambwa, Blessed Mukuwiri, Bongani Msipa, Cyril Cherayi, Tavonga Chirisa, Kudzai Sakirai, Mthabisi
Ndlovu, Rufaro Shenje, Prosper Zimbango, Joshua Mbanefo, Brendon Musekiwa, Zane Sibanda, Connor Lovatt, Tanaka Masawi, Denzel Dhave, Joshua Littlewood, Michael Chimedza, Joshua
Chitehwe, Donnell Muyaka, Philip Chimhaka, Nasha Nyakujarah, Curtis Mashonganyika, Rukudzo Mandinga, Wayne Ganniwa, Munyaradzi Nyabvute, Munangi Kamwendo, Takudzwa Matsvimbo
Non-Travelling players (Injuries)
Tapiwa Zhanda
Mudiwa Mtemererwa
Team Management
Shaun De Souza: Head Coach
Marvin Chirume: Assistant Coach
Anne Butau: Physiotherapist
Hugh Vera: Manager
Lucky Sithole: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Shelton Chiuswa: Analyst
Kudzanai Tembo: Videographer Brand new day for Junior Sables
