Kenya U20 captain Michael Wamalwa expressed his joy and gratitude upon being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Chipu squad in the upcoming World Junior Trophy.

The tournament is set to take place at the Nyayo Stadium from July 15 to July 30, providing an exciting platform for young rugby players from around the world to showcase their skills.

Kenya U20 captaincy exchange

Wamalwa takes over the captaincy from Laban Kipsang, who led the team during the Rugby Africa Barthes Cup held at the same venue.

As the captains gathered in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya, with the highly coveted World Rugby U20 Trophy silverware, Wamalwa spoke about the significance of leading his country’s team on home soil and in front of their passionate fans.

He expressed his deep appreciation for this opportunity and emphasized that this would be a memory he would cherish for a lifetime.

Wamalwa acknowledged the privilege of donning the national colours and representing Kenya on the global stage, acknowledging that many aspiring athletes long for such an opportunity.

 “It is a great feeling captaining this team on home soil, and in front of our home fans. This is one memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The fact that we are donning the national colours in front of our own fans … many long for this moment and we are honoured to be representing the country on the global stage,” Wamalwa stated.

Kenya U20 opener

The tournament’s fixtures and match timings have already been confirmed. The opening day, Saturday, July 15, 2023, will witness Kenya U20 going head-to-head against Samoa at 12:00 pm.

The team will subsequently compete in their remaining group stage matches against Hong Kong China on Thursday, July 20, Spain on Tuesday, July 25, and Scotland on Sunday, July 30.

Kenya U20’s participation in the World U20 Trophy not only provides a platform for the players to showcase their talent but also grants them the honor of representing their country with pride.

World Rugby U20 Trophy, Nyayo National Stadium

Match Day 1 | Saturday 15 July 2023

Scotland v Zimbabwe | 10.00am

Samoa v Kenya | 12.00pm

Uruguay v USA | 2.00pm

Spain v Hong Kong China | 4.00pm

Match Day 2 | Thursday 20 July 2023

Samoa v Hong Kong China | 10.00am

Uruguay v Zimbabwe | 12.00pm

Scotland v USA | 2.00pm

Spain v Kenya | 4.00pm

Match Day 3 | Tuesday 25 July 2023

USA v Zimbabwe | 10.00am

Kenya v Hong Kong China | 12.00pm

Spain v Samoa | 2.00pm

Scotland v Uruguay | 4.00pm

Match Day 4 | Sunday 30 July 2023

Group A 4^th v Group B 4^th | 10.00am

Group A 3^rd v Group B 3^rd | 12.00pm

Group A 2^nd v Group B 2^nd | 2.00pm

Group A 1^st v Group B 1^st | 4.00pm