Rugby Africa's Mensah urges shared funding after Barthes Trophy

Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah has called for wider hosting and funding arrangements across the continent after Uganda staged the 2026 U20 Barthes Trophy. The tournament ran from 7 to 15 August, with Kenya defeating Namibia 33-14 to secure a record fourth title.

Mensah said Uganda’s role showed the value of national federations taking responsibility for the financial and logistical demands of major competitions. The country has now hosted a major African men’s Fifteens tournament for three consecutive years.

Kampala was also the venue for the 2024 and 2025 Rugby Africa Cup tournaments at Mandela National Stadium. Mensah highlighted Uganda’s organisational work, the match-day spectacle and the standard of rugby produced during those events before pointing to the U20 competition as another stage for emerging players.

He argued that Uganda’s progress should form part of a wider continental approach rather than leave one federation carrying the main burden. Rugby Africa, he said, cannot stage enough tournaments with an annual budget of £650,000, particularly while covering officiating, travel, accommodation and other operational costs.

Mensah said investment from governments, companies and rugby federations would be needed to expand the competition calendar. He cited Mali’s government-funded 2026 UFOAR Zone B Tournament in Bamako as an example of a national authority supporting a rugby structure for an emerging nation. Morocco, Tunisia and Ghana were also identified as countries seeking opportunities to host regional events.

The Rugby Africa president linked broader investment with wider participation across age groups, genders and social backgrounds. He said that approach could help rugby move beyond its elitist image, while stressing that inclusion would require the capacity to sustain competitions.

Uganda will have another hosting responsibility in September, when it stages the World Rugby SVNS3 2026–2027 Africa Qualifiers. Mensah presented that event as evidence of Uganda’s continuing momentum, but said responsibility for African rugby tournaments must increasingly be shared across the region.