As the 2026 Barthés Trophy gets underway in Uganda on Friday, 7 August, Kenya's Under-20 side, Chipu, will once again carry the hopes of a nation eager to see the next generation of rugby stars emerge.Chipu open their campaign against Zimbabwe, seeking to reclaim continental glory while continuing a tradition that has become one of Kenya Rugby Union's (KRU) most successful talent pipelines.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883847##Over the years, the Barthés Trophy has proven to be far more than just an age-grade tournament.It has served as the launching pad for many of Kenya's finest players, with graduates going on to represent the Kenya Simbas, Shujaa, Morans and some even securing professional contracts abroad.The importance of the competition was evident during Kenya Simbas' 2022 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign.Seven members of the 31-man squad had previously featured for Chipu in the Barthés Trophy.From the celebrated "Class of 2019" to the more recent champions of 2023 and 2024, several players have made remarkable transitions into elite rugby.KSSSA: Kinale, Butula clinch Rugby Sevens crowns as Ikutha and Agoro Sare reign in 3×3 BasketballPhilip OkeyoOkeyo announced himself as one of Kenya's brightest young forwards after representing Chipu at both the Barthés Trophy and the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Scotland, where Kenya finished eighth.The talented player later joined his elder brother John Okoth at Menengai Oilers, where the siblings have continued to establish themselves as key figures in one of Kenya's strongest clubs.##NAJAVA_MECA_9003243##Cornelius MokoroMokoro featured for Chipu in both 2021 and 2022 before rapidly climbing the national rugby ladder.After his youth career, he graduated to the Kenya Morans before making his Kenya Cup debut for Kenya Harlequin in late 2023.His consistent performances earned him opportunities with the senior national setup and eventually attracted European interest.Mokoro recently secured a two-year professional contract with Polish top-flight club Posnania PoznańHafidh MohammedHafidh Mohammed's journey perfectly illustrates how the Chipu pathway continues to produce Kenya Cup stars.Following his U20 exploits, he joined South Coast Pirates, where his impressive performances caught the attention of KCB Rugby.He now represents the bankers while balancing rugby with his studies.Kenya U20 release 28-man squad for Barthés Trophy tourneyAndycolle OmolloOmollo has enjoyed one of the quickest rises in Kenyan rugby.He helped Chipu win the Barthés Trophy in 2024 before representing Kenya at the World Rugby U20 Trophy, where he established himself as one of the team's standout performers.His performances earned him promotion to KCB Rugby Club before making his senior Kenya Simbas debut.Omollo has since secured an educational scholarship at Japan's Tenri University, where he continues to develop both academically and on the rugby field.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883764##Alvin KhavoliFew recent Chipu graduates have exploded onto the Kenya Cup scene quite like Alvin Khavoli.The exciting winger scored crucial tries during Kenya's successful Barthés Trophy campaign.That included back-to-back efforts against Tunisia before helping Chipu lift the 2024 title and qualify for the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Scotland.He later joined Menengai Oilers and enjoyed a sensational 2025/26 Kenya Cup season.He finished as the league's leading try scorer with 14 tries despite Oilers bowing out in the quarterfinals.14 Kenyan stars make inaugural Ultimate Sevens draftSamuel AsatiAsati remains one of the greatest success stories to emerge from the Barthés Trophy.The scrum-half spent three years with Chipu before captaining the side as assistant skipper during the historic 2019 campaign that secured Kenya's first Barthés Trophy title and qualification for the World Rugby Junior Trophy in Brazil.After impressing at the global tournament, where Kenya finished sixth, Asati made an immediate impact with the Kenya SimbasHe earned the Man of the Match award on his debut against Zambia in the Victoria Cup.He later joined KCB Rugby and has since established himself among Kenya's finest scrum-halves.His rise also saw him become an Olympian with Kenya Sevens and a member of the side that won the 2023 Rugby Africa Sevens title.Paul Murunga opens up on secret to his success in coachingTimothy OmelaTimothy Omela was another standout member of the famous 2019 Chipu squad.He made his U20 debut against Uruguay before representing Kenya at the World Rugby Junior Trophy in Brazil.His electric pace and outstanding goal-kicking quickly earned him promotion to the Kenya Simbas, where he made his debut against Zimbabwe and has remained a regular in major competitions, including the Rugby Africa Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883341##At club level, Omela has become one of Menengai Oilers' most influential players, helping them win the 2024 Floodlit Tournament and Rugby Super Series before finishing as the Kenya Cup's top points scorer during the 2024/25 season.Beldad OgetaOgeta played a pivotal role in Kenya's historic 2019 Barthés Trophy triumph under coach Paul Odera.He scored important tries against Senegal and Tunisia before helping Chipu defeat Namibia 21-18 to lift their maiden continental title and qualify for the World Rugby Junior Trophy.Today, Ogeta remains a key figure for Menengai Oilers and recently helped the club reach the 2026 Dala 7s final.Chipu out to avenge Namibia defeat in 2026 Barthés Trophy openerIan MashetiIan Masheti etched his name into Chipu history by scoring a crucial try in Kenya's memorable 2019 Barthés Trophy final victory over Namibia.He also featured at the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Brazil before graduating into the Kenya Simbas, making his senior Test debut against Zimbabwe in the Victoria Cup.Masheti currently turns out for Strathmore Leos.Why exciting Kabras RFC quartet will miss a leg of the circuitAndrew SimiyuSimiyu was another important member of the celebrated 2019 Chipu squad.Since graduating from the youth ranks, he has steadily built his professional career through stints in academies and clubs in South Africa and Europe before transitioning into senior representative rugby.Oscar OumaLong before the current generation, Oscar Ouma showcased the value of Kenya's age-grade system during the 2009 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy held in Nairobi.His outstanding performances helped Chipu finish fourth after memorable victories over the USA and launched a professional career that saw him play for Nakuru RFC before becoming one of Kenya Sevens' most influential players.Andrew Amonde opens up on pressure of managing a star-studded KCB teamPatrice AgundaAgunda also featured at the 2009 Junior World Rugby Trophy in Nairobi before enjoying an illustrious playing career with both club and country.Today, he is passing on that experience as head coach of Kenya Harlequin, where he has played a key role in the club's resurgence.Curtis ‘Curtlow’ LilakoThe Musingu Alumni, who was the youngest player in the 2009 26-man final squad, went on to earn 38 caps for the Simbas, captaining the side and winning the Africa Gold Cup.The one-club man captained KCB to the club’s first-ever four-peat Kenya Cup run, before calling it a day on his playing career earlier this year, turning his attention to his Fraud analyst career at KCB Bank.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883320##Beyond these household names, the Barthés Trophy has also produced outstanding players such as the late Mike Okombe, Geoffrey Okwach, Edwin Makori and Martin Owilah, all of whom went on to leave a lasting mark on Kenyan rugby.KSSSA: How former Kenya Simbas star is fueling Cardinal Otunga's historic run