USA join Zim in Pool A

THE United States of America (USA) will join Pool A at the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 which consists of Zimbabwe, Scotland and Uruguay.

The World Rugby Under-20 Trophy 2023 gets underway on July 15 with the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi hosting all 16 matches.

US became the sixth and final team to qualify for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy 2023 when they defeated Canada 82-35 on aggregate across the two-legged play-off last Saturday.

They won the first leg of the Rugby Americas North regional qualifier 43-21 in South Carolina on Tuesday and followed it up with a 39-14 victory in the second and final encounter on Saturday, to go through and join Scotland, Uruguay and Zimbabwe in Pool A.

Pool B had long since been decided with Hong Kong, China, Kenya, Samoa and Spain.

As the host nation, Kenya’s participation was guaranteed, while Scotland’s involvement has come about through their relegation from the World Rugby Under-20 Championship when it was last held in 2019.

In three previous appearances at the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy, Samoa has won it twice in 2011 and 2016 and were runners-up on the other occasion in 2018.

In April, the African slot was filled by Zimbabwe, after an emphatic 60-6 win against Tunisia in the semi-finals of the Rugby Africa Barthes Under-20 Trophy.

This followed from their earlier 55-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire.

With the other finalists, Kenya, already qualified because of their status as the host nation, reaching the final was sufficient to ensure the Young Sables would be Africa’s second team at the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy.

But the Young Sables were not content with just qualifying, they had an African Under-20 title to defend and they went on to beat Kenya 28-7 at a packed Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Young Sables coach Shaun De Souza is happy with how his team is shaping up ahead of tournament.

“We played a select team last weekend and it ended 18 all. I felt the game gave us the physicality which we need. Our strength as a side is our mobility and that is the aspect of the game which we are trying to perfect ahead of the tournament,” said De Souza.

Zimbabwe Training Squad

Prop: Tadiwa Chinwada, Gerry Zisengwe, Gealan Jaricha, Martin Hakunavanhu, Nqobile Manyara Happias Zhou , Farai Madzima, Tadiwanashe Marumisa

Hooker: Bryan Chiang, Stanley Muranganwa, Takunda Mudzingwa, Takudzwa Zvomuya

Locks: Tanaka GondoMukandapi, Huntley Masterson, Tamuka Kambani, Leo Mutendi , Tawananyasha Bwanya

Loose trio: Allan Mawunga, Shingirai Manyarara , Tanaka Ndoro, Muzuva Gutu, Hagler Muchenji, Tashinga Makiwa, Kelvin Kaseke, Tendai Maruma, Mwaita Makanza, Vincent Chimwendo

Scrum Half: Panashe Zuze, Shadrick Mandaza, Welton Charumbira, Cody Grant

Fly Half: Brendan Marume, Benoni Nhekairo, Kholwani Moyo

Centre: Alex Nyamunda, Dion Khumalo, Tanaka Chinyanga, Kudakwashe Nyamushaya, Tadiwanashe Unganai, Vuyani Ncube

Back Three: Edward Sigauke, Munotida Marimirofa, Brendan Jameson, Panashe Mugorogodi, Taona Mapani

Kelton Kaseke, David Yosa

Full Backs: Tawanda Matipano, Simbarashe Kanyangarara. — @innocentskizoe