T. NashipaeUSA qualifies for World Rugby U20 Trophy, Chipu intensify training
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 12.06.23. | 13:19
The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 gets underway on 15 July with the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi hosting all 16 matches.
The USA have become the sixth and final team to qualify for the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 after defeating Canada 82-35 on aggregate across the two-legged play-off.
The much-anticipated showpiece will take place in Nairobi from 15 July to 30 July 2023 at the Nyayo Stadium.
They have joined Scotland, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe in Pool A. The USA can look forward to competing in the World Rugby U20 Trophy for the first time since 2016 after two dominant displays against Canada saw them qualify with ease.
As the host nation, Kenya’s participation is guaranteed. Chipu lost 28-7 against Zimbabwe Sables in the finals of the U20 Barthes Cup played at Nyayo Stadium and will be seeking to avenge.
A 39-man Kenya U20 squad has been in preparation sharpening claws ahead of the encounter. The team is in Pool B for the tournament alongside Hong Kong China, Spain, and Samoa. This is Chipu’s third appearance, having hosted the 2009 edition before qualifying for the 2019 tournament in Brazil.
Commenting on the team’s preparations, Team Manager Peter Mutai said, “The team has been preparing well as we work towards next month’s tournament. We have retained a core of the squad that was selected for the Barthes U20 Trophy. There are six new call-ups to the wider training squad that will be whittled down to the final squad of 28 ahead of the tournament. The six are Ian Nyandusi, Spencer Tayghan, Anthony Okoyo, Rodgers Omanyi, Nickson Shevei, and Victor Wabuto,” he added.
Spain was the first team to qualify for the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 through the regional qualifiers back in November, beating Samoa, Uruguay, and Hong Kong China in booking their place in the tournament line-up by a matter of weeks.
After two hugely competitive matches against host nation Tonga at the Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa, Samoa came through to win the Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy and secure their place in the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023.
In three previous appearances at the World Rugby U20 Trophy, Samoa has won it twice, in 2011 and 2016, and was runners-up on the other occasion in 2018.
Next to join the World Rugby U20 Trophy line-up was Hong Kong China, as winners of the Asia Rugby U19 Championship 2022.
Hong Kong China won their seventh U19 title following victories over host nation Malaysia (43-9) and Chinese Taipei (19-12).
That left Africa and North America as the only regions to decide their representatives.
In April, the Africa slot was filled by Zimbabwe, after an emphatic 60-6 win against Tunisia in the semi-finals of the Rugby Africa Barthes U20 Trophy. This followed an earlier 55-0 win against the Ivory Coast.
The World Rugby Under 20 Trophy is organized by the sport’s governing body, World Rugby, and is contested by 8 men’s junior national teams with an under-20 age requirement. It serves as the second-tier U20 competition, with the winner earning promotion to the World Rugby U20 Championship at the expense of the bottom-ranked team.
World Rugby Junior Trophy Pools
Pool A: Scotland, Uruguay, USA, Zimbabwe
Pool B: Spain, Samoa, Kenya, Hong Kong
Pool matches
MD1: Saturday 15 July
MD2: Thursday 20 July
MD3: Tuesday 23 July
Final and Ranking matches
MD4: Saturday 30 July.
