Innocent Kurira
PREPARATIONS for the Barthes Trophy tournament are on, with the announcement of a 37-man squad, as the country targets to win the tourney three times in a row.
Zimbabwe has won the last two editions of the tournament and will be hoping to defend the title in Harare next month.
Organised by Rugby Africa, the Barthes Under-20 Trophy is the official African Rugby Championship for national teams in that age bracket.
The Barthes Trophy has seen a good number of future stars of the African game taking part in the tournament over the years and continues to serve as a grand talent identification platform and elite player pathway.
In 2022 Zimbabwe were champions after they beat Namibia 19-14 to end an 11-year trophy drought.
Last year Zimbabwe won the competition after beating Kenya 28-7.
The Junior Sables will open their Barthes Trophy campaign with a clash against Tunisia on April 20 at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.
It will run until April 28.
The winner of this year’s Barthes Trophy will then join Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States of America or Canada in Pool B of the World Ruby Under-20 Trophy set for July 2-17 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Squad
Samuel Edwards, Louange Ujenza Mutimawurukundo, Emmanuel Gabi, Tawanyasha Bwanya, Thabani Ndlovu, Joseph Benning, Innocent Dekete, Allan Mawunga, Kholuwani Moyo, Tinotenda Rusike, Emmanuel Magutakuona, Alex Kern, Brendon Jameson, Shammah Jackson, Benoni Nhekairo, Tatenda Runyowa, Kudzai Waylen Tsvakirai, Huntsmann Greaves, Tadiwanashe Unganai, Wayne Kunaka, Tadiwa Maradze, Kaitano Tembo, Tadiwa Madya, Cody Grant, Tanaka Mupamhadzi, Tafara Dewa, Tatenda Mpagore, Owen Musumhi, Vuyani Ncube, Elias Chitengwa, Giordan Sarpo, Polite Phiri, Edward Sigauke (cvc), Joshua Bekker, Rogers Tayengwa Takudzwa Matsvimbo, Tadiwa Nyamukondiwa