Newly-elected President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, is embarking on a five-day visit to Kenya.
During his time, Mr. Mensah will proudly represent World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont at the prestigious World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament. One of the highlights of the visit will be presenting the highly coveted trophy to the deserving winners.
The World Rugby U20 Trophy is an internationally renowned rugby union competition organized by World Rugby. This extraordinary tournament showcases the skills and passion of men’s junior national teams, with players under the age of 20 competing at their highest level.
All 16 exhilarating matches of this remarkable event are being held at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium since it commenced on July 15th.
This marks Kenya’s second time hosting the U20 Trophy, previously hosting it in 2009 when it was known as the Junior World Rugby Trophy.
In addition to competing for this esteemed silverware, the eight participating teams will be vying for a spot in the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship (from June 24 to July 14) in South Africa. The victorious team will earn promotion to the U20 Championship and replace Japan, who finished last in this year’s competition.
The teams have been divided into two challenging pools: Pool A includes Scotland, Uruguay, USA, and Zimbabwe; while hosts Kenya join Hong Kong China, Samoa and Spain in Pool B. This captivating tournament promises to deliver thrilling moments and exceptional talent on display from these young athletes.
Herbert Mensah’s visit to Kenya is not only a testament to his dedication as President of Rugby Africa but also an exciting opportunity to witness some of Africa’s finest rugby talents competing on an international stage.
“The World Rugby U20 Trophy not only showcases Kenya’s capability as a world-class sporting destination but also represents the collective spirit and passion for rugby that resonates across Africa. Together, we stand united in celebrating Africa’s presence on the global rugby stage,” said the Rugby Africa President.
Herbert Mensah’s attendance at the World Rugby U20 Trophy underlines the significance of the tournament, and his representation of World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont exemplifies Rugby Africa’s strong engagement with the global rugby community.
“Africa hosting two World Rugby U20 tournaments consecutively will be exciting to witness and serves as the perfect build-up to Rugby World Cup 2023 which is just under three months away.
“Both South Africa and Kenya have proven their ability to host global age-grade competitions in the past and I have no doubt that these editions will be successful with great interest from local crowds,” said World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
