Herbert Mensah, the recently elected President of Rugby Africa, the governing body of rugby in Africa, is scheduled for a five-day visit to Kenya.
Mensah arrives in Kenya on Wednesday night and will serve as the official representative of World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont at the ongoing World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament.
“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 Mr. Mensah.
The World Rugby U20 Trophy is an international rugby union competition organized by World Rugby. This tournament features men’s junior national teams, with players under the age of 20 showcasing their skills and passion for the sport.
All 16 matches of the World Rugby U20 Trophy are currently taking place at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, following its commencement on July 15th.
It is the second time Kenya is hosting the U20 Trophy, having done so in 2009 when the tournament was known as the Junior World Rugby Trophy. Besides the silverware, the eight competing teams have been competing for a spot in the World Rugby U20 Championship next year in South Africa. The winners will be promoted to the U20 Championship replacing Japan who finished bottom in that competition.
Herbert Mensah’s presence during the World Rugby U20 Trophy reflects the significance of this event and his representation of World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont symbolizes the strong collaboration between Rugby Africa and 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.
