Zim Rugby U20 team gets Barthes campaign underway

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Under-20 side will get its Rugby Africa Barthes Trophy campaign underway with a quarter-final tie against Tunisia at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya on Saturday.

The tournament, which serves as the Africa Under-20 championship, features eight teams and will be played on a knock-out basis over three match days.

According to the fixtures’ list released yesterday, there will be four quarter-final games on Saturday, with the semi-finals set for April 13 and the final on April 17.

Former champions Namibia will get the tournament underway when they face Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match, paving the way for the second clash between Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

Madagascar will take on Zambia in the day’s third fixture before hosts and defending champions Kenya take on door neighbours Uganda in the last quarter-final game.

Takudzwa Musingwini will captain the Zimbabwe team that will play in the tournament named after the late World Rugby services manager for Africa, Jean-Luc Barthes.

The Barthes Trophy is the biggest competition for Under-20 players on the continent and the winners will qualify for the World Rugby Junior Trophy.

Zimbabwe will join Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia.

This year’s tournament is open to the public.