Kenya’s U20 Rugby 15s team, Chipu, made a perfect start to their defense of the 2025 Rugby Africa Barthes U20 Trophy, downing Tunisia 29-21 on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

The encounter staged at the Old Hararians Sport Club demanded the best of the reigning champions as the North African pushed Simon Jawichre’s team to the limit after Kenya took a 19-11 lead to the break.

The side managed to fend off the Tunisians and maintain their unbeaten status against a side they also beat in the 2024 edition.

Well in #Chipu2025…

First win in the bag! pic.twitter.com/zoMmceKxp9

— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) April 19, 2025

Chipu’s coach, Jawichre, fronted a much-changed side for the clash, led out by Kabras youngster Roy Maruti skippering the team.

The team also featured Maruti’s teammates including Brian Kiptanui among others.

Chipu’s attention now turns to their second test against Namibia on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

The clash will be preceded by an eagerly awaited clash against Zimbabwe’s Junior Sables, who will be out to reclaim the trophy they lost to Kenya in the 2024 finals.

Kenya and Zimbabwe have dominated the past three years of the four-team tournament, with former 2022 and 2023 winners Zimbabwe eventually relinquishing the title on home soil to Chipu in the 2024 finals.

Jawichre’s boys will wrap up the tournament with a game against Zimbabwe on Sunday, April 27, 2025.

Speaking ahead of the tourney, the coach laid down Chipu’s targets of replicating past triump as they ventured into the familiar enemy territory.

“We’re going into this tournament as defending champions. Our target is to create history,” he affirmed to KRU during the squad announcement.

The U20 Barthes Cup, which brings together the best of Africa’s under-20 rugby talents, follows a round-robin format, where each team plays every other team in the group. 

This format allows all teams to compete against each other, providing an opportunity for each team to demonstrate its capabilities.