Bihar to host India-New Zealand Under-20 Rugby Series

Bihar is set to host an international sporting event to mark 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand.

As part of the “100 Years of Unity Through Sport” initiative, the India-New Zealand Under-20 Rugby Series will be held at the Rajgir Sports Complex from October 23 to 28. in Nalanda.

The main matches of the series will take place on October 27. The event will bring together young players from both countries to promote cultural exchange and mutual cooperation alongside sporting competition.

The Under-20 men’s and women’s teams from India and New Zealand have arrived in Bihar to participate in the series. The New Zealand teams received a traditional welcome at Patna airport on Thursday (October 22, 2026). 

During their stay, players from both countries will participate in joint training sessions and share their sporting techniques, experiences and cultures.

New Zealand’s Under-20 Rugby teams have travelled to India for the first time for an event of this kind. New Zealand’s men’s team, Tama Toa, and women’s team, Hine Toa, comprise a total of 24 young Maori players selected from different regions.

The event will provide young athletes with an opportunity to showcase their talent on an international platform apart from strengthening the historic sporting ties between the two countries.

The selection of seven players from Bihar for the Indian Under-20 men’s and women’s teams is a matter of pride for the state. Bajrangi Kumar and Rohit Kumar have been included in the men’s team, while Alpana Kumari, Aarti Kumari, Beauty Kumari and Saloni Kumari have secured places in the women’s team. Sagar Prakash is also part of the Indian contingent.

Sagar Prakash, Alpana Kumari and Aarti Kumari previously represented India at the Asia Rugby Emirates Under-20 Sevens Championship held in Bihar in 2025.

According to official of Bihar Sports Deparmtent, four rugby sevens matches will be played at the Rajgir Sports Complex on October 27. These will include matches between the men’s teams and the women’s teams of India and New Zealand, along with two mixed matches.

The official asserted that players from both countries will come together to form joint teams for the mixed matches. The initiative aims to promote not only competition but also sportsmanship, cooperation and international friendship, the official said. 

Rajgir is strengthening its reputation as a major destination for Rugby tournaments. The city hosted the Asia Rugby Emirates Under-20 Championship in August 2025 and the Senior National Rugby Championship in April 2026.

Hosting India-New Zealand series will further highlight Bihar’s sporting infrastructure and its capacity to organise international competitions.

Bihar State Sports Authority Director General-cum-CEO Raveendran Sankaran said hosting the series was a proud occasion for Bihar and Rajgir. He noted that the event would strengthen international sporting relations, encourage cultural exchange and inspire young people in the state to take up Rugby.

He added that the state government was committed to providing athletes with better training facilities and more opportunities to compete.

Indian Rugby Football Union President Rahul Bose said the completion of 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand was a historic milestone. Playing against New Zealand on home soil would give Indian players an opportunity to learn international techniques and improve their understanding of the game.

Meanwhile, Manu Albert, head of the New Zealand Rugby delegation, expressed enthusiasm about sharing sporting experiences, developing the sevens format and supporting the training of Indian players and coaches.

Training workshops were organised at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar for 35 Indian coaches, with support from New Zealand Rugby coaches in May 2026. The upcoming series in Rajgir represents an important step towards taking this collaboration forward.