Kenya Under-20 rugby side Chipu will hold two training camps as they fine-tune preparations for the 2026 Barthes Cup, set for Kampala, Uganda, from August 7 to 15.
Head coach Simon Jawichre said the 40-man squad completed their first training camp in Nakuru last week, bringing together players from the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western regions.
“We conducted our first camp in Nakuru, bringing together players from the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western regions. It was quite competitive, and we’ve been able to assess various aspects of our play before heading into the second camp next week,” said Jawichre.
The coach admitted that this year’s preparations have been affected by the tournament’s shift from its traditional April slot to August, forcing the technical bench to adjust its planning.
“We are more accustomed to the April dates because that’s when our 15s season is in full swing, and most of these players are actively involved with their Kenya Cup and other club competitions,” he explained.
“With the tournament now in August, it becomes more difficult because clubs are shifting their focus to the sevens season, which affects player availability and preparation.”
Jawichre also lamented the delayed start to the team’s training programme, saying the side will have just over two weeks together before the continental championship.
“The biggest challenge we’ve faced over the past few years has been delayed training schedules due to funding constraints. Ideally, we should have started in May to allow ourselves a solid two-month preparation period, play build-up matches and properly test our systems. Training for only about two and a half weeks is not ideal for an elite competition.”
The Catholic Monks coach, however, believes the experience of several returning players will be crucial as Chipu target the continental title.
“We have a few players who featured last year and are still eligible for selection, including Ray Maruti, Rayvone Ambale, Jackson Siketi and Brian Oyugi. They have also remained active with their clubs, so we’ll rely on their experience to guide the squad,” he added.
Kenya open their campaign against Zimbabwe on August 7 before taking on Tunisia on August 11 and defending champions Namibia on August 15.
Last year, Chipu defeated Tunisia 29-21 and Zimbabwe 21-20 before losing 32-22 to Namibia, finishing runners-up in the tournament.
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