Namibia’s Junior Welwitschias are set for the 2026 World Rugby Under-20 Challenger Cup in Chile, despite their 33-14 defeat to Kenya in the Rugby Africa U20 Barthés Trophy final in Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday.
The Junior Welwitschias booked their ticket to the 2026 World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup after winning the 2025 Rugby Africa U20 Barthés Trophy in Harare, Zimbabwe. That tournament served as the designated African qualification competition for the October 2026 Challenger Cup.
Namibia’s place in the tournament in Santiago therefore remains secure, while Kenya’s latest Barthés Trophy triumph will count towards qualification for the 2027 World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup. The 2026 Challenger Cup will take place in Santiago, Chile, from 2 to 17 October, with eight teams competing for an opportunity to progress towards the expanded World Rugby U20 Championship.
The participating nations are hosts Chile, Namibia, Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada, Belgium, Portugal and Romania. The teams qualified through a combination of regional competitions across Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, with Chile entering as hosts. The 2026 tournament will be the 15th edition of World Rugby’s second-tier Under-20 competition and the third time Chile has hosted the event.
The competition assumes added importance following the expansion of the World Rugby U20 Championship from 12 to 16 teams. The expansion has resulted in the promotion of the United States, Japan and Uruguay, alongside champions Scotland, into the top-tier championship. For Namibia, the Challenger Cup provides another opportunity for the country’s emerging players to gain valuable international experience against opposition from different rugby regions.
Despite surrendering their African title to Kenya, the Junior Welwitschias can now turn their attention to their confirmed global assignment in Santiago, where they will seek to make their mark on the international stage. Kenya, meanwhile, will have to wait until the next cycle, with their 2026 Barthés Trophy triumph putting them in line for the 2027 World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup, whose host nation is yet to be announced.
By Rudi Bowe
