Uganda U20 Captain Elijah Kantinti ready to lead Rugby Cranes in Barthes Trophy home challenge

Uganda Under-20 captain Elijah Kantinti is hoping to lead by example as the Rugby Cranes U20 side prepares to compete on home soil at the 2026 Barthes Trophy, Africa’s premier Under-20 rugby tournament. For Kantinti, the tournament represents more than just a sporting contest. It is an opportunity to showcase rugby’s ability to bring communities together and inspire a new generation of players. “Rugby is not just a sport, but a community of families that come together every now and then, on a rectangular surface to push and pull each other,” Kantinti said. Kantinti’s own rugby journey began unexpectedly. A talented all-round sportsman as a child, he initially had interests in football, basketball and cricket before discovering rugby through Tag Rugby at Aga Khan Primary School.