NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Four players, among them captain Laban Kipsang, have returned to the Kenyan U-20 squad, known as Chipu, for the 2023 Rugby Africa U-20 Barthes Trophy that will be played in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi from April 22-30.

Head coach Curtis Olago unveiled his team on Tuesday at the training camp in Nairobi, with Kipsang, who plays for domestic side Kenya Harlequin, getting the armband for the continental event. The other returning players from the squad that finished third at last year's tournament are Felix Chacha (Mwamba RFC), Dave Mwangi (Kenya Harlequin), and Stanslous Shikoli (Strathmore Leos).

William Otondi, who plays for Binghamton University in the USA, has also been named in the 28-man squad and will link up with the team on Saturday.

"We go in a bit green because of inexperience, as only three players will be back with the team selected for this year. Nonetheless, it is a group composed of very good players who have worked hard so far. We only have a few areas to polish, and we will be ready for our rivals," Olago, a retired Kenyan international, told reporters during the team unveiling.

The coach identified titleholders Zimbabwe and last year's beaten finalists Namibia as the biggest threats to their title ambitions.

The Barthes Trophy is the only junior tournament in Africa, and eight U20 teams compete for the title. Kenya will face Madagascar, Tunisia, and Zambia in Pool A, while the champions Zimbabwe headline Pool B alongside Namibia, Senegal, and Cote d'Ivoire. Enditem

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