The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced that the East African country will host the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 as they continue their attempts to develop the sport across the world.

 

The awarding of the international under-20 tournament, which will be played in April 2009, is another major filip to the ongoing development of the game in Africa and could provide a significant boost in rugby's attempts to get back into the Olympics for 2016, having not appeared since the 1924 Games in Paris.

 

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset. “The IRB is delighted that the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy will be hosted in Africa in 2009 and awarding it to Kenya is another significant development in the evolution of this exciting international age grade competition.

 

"The Trophy is a very important tournament in terms of player development across developing nations, allowing future Test players the opportunity to showcase their abilities on a global stage against opposition they would not normally face.

 

“Africa is a key region for the IRB. Last year an historic accord was signed with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) aimed at jointly fostering sport and rugby in Africa.

 

"The popularity of rugby across Africa continues to grow and the Kenya Rugby Football Union’s hosting of this major international age grade tournament further underlines the appetite and enthusiasm for the sport, bringing rugby close to inclusion in the All Africa Games.

 

“The Kenya Rugby Football Union is uniquely placed to host a successful IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy that will deliver excellent facilities and will provide the platform to showcase Rugby within Africa.

 

"The Union has an excellent track record in hosting major international rugby events, including the successful Safari Sevens and CAR (Confederation of African Rugby) Regional tournaments.

 

"The IRB was impressed with the Union’s enthusiasm and commitment to hosting this tournament and I am sure that IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 will be a huge success."

 

Mark Egan, the IRB’s head of game development and performance, believes that hosting the Trophy will be a significant boost to the development of rugby across the Africa region.

 

He said: “This is a big step forward for the Game in Africa, which is a strategically important growth region for the IRB.

 

"The hosting of this important IRB strategic tournament in Kenya will put rugby on the map [in Africa], leaving a lasting development legacy in the region and giving Kenya the opportunity to gain from the experience of hosting a major international rugby tournament.”

 

More than 250 players, coaches and support staff along with many travelling fans from the eight participating countries will be involved in the event.

 

Kenya Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Omwela said: "The Kenya Rugby Football Union is delighted at the opportunity to host the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy and become the first African nation to do so.

 

"Rugby in Kenya continues to grow in schools and colleges and this tournament will serve as a further boost to interest and participation in rugby in the country.

 

"We are looking forward to the challenge of hosting this major international age grade tournament and showcasing what Kenya has to offer."

 

The winners of the Trophy in Kenya will be promoted to the IRB Junior World Championship 2010, swapping places with the last-placed team at next year’s tournament in Japan.

 

The inaugural IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Chile earlier this year was won by Uruguay, who beat the hosts in the final and will replace United States at the IRB Junior World Championship 2009.