THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 6, 2026
After an eight-year hiatus, international rugby is set to return to
Odisha, with Bhubaneswar preparing to host the Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Sevens
Championship 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium on November 14 and 15. The two-day
continental tournament will bring together some of Asia’s most promising young
rugby players, while providing India’s Under-20 men’s and women’s teams an
opportunity to showcase their talent on home soil.
The announcement was marked by the joint unveiling of the championship’s
official logo by the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government
of Odisha, Rugby India and the Odisha Rugby Football Association. The occasion
also saw the announcement of the Indian U20 men’s and women’s squads selected
to represent the country in the continental competition.
The last international rugby championship hosted in Odisha was the Asia
Rugby U18 Girls Sevens Championship in 2018. The return of an international
competition to Bhubaneswar marks a significant milestone for the sport in the
State. The forthcoming championship is expected to bring together 10 nations
across the men’s and women’s categories, further strengthening Odisha’s
position as an important destination for sporting events.
The championship’s official logo draws inspiration from Odisha’s
traditional Jhoti Chita art, translating elements of the State’s rich cultural
heritage into a distinctive sporting identity. Featuring a semi-circular motif
with a rugby ball at its centre, the design captures the dynamism, energy and
movement associated with rugby sevens, while establishing a strong cultural
connect with the host State. The visual identity thus brings together Odisha’s
artistic traditions and the competitive spirit of international rugby.
The announcement also marks an important occasion for the Indian U20
men’s and women’s teams, who will have the opportunity to represent the country
in front of home supporters against emerging rugby talent from across Asia. The
Indian U20 women’s team will return to the competition following an impressive
bronze-medal finish at the 2025 edition, held in Rajgir, Bihar. The team will
be keen to build on that achievement and deliver another strong performance in
Bhubaneswar. The Indian U20 men’s team, meanwhile, will also be looking to make
a mark at the continental championship and gain valuable international
exposure.
Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports and Youth
Services Department, Government of Odisha, said, “Odisha has continued to
support the development of rugby through the hosting of national competitions
and initiatives that provide opportunities for athletes at different levels.
The Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Championship brings international rugby back to the
State and offers young players an important platform to showcase their talent.
We are pleased to host the participating nations in Bhubaneswar and look
forward to an exciting championship at the Kalinga Stadium.”
Rahul Bose, President, Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), said, “The
return of international rugby to Odisha after eight years is a significant
moment for Indian rugby. Bhubaneswar has been an important venue for the
development of the sport, and hosting this championship provides our U20 men’s
and women’s teams with an opportunity to compete at home against some of the
best emerging teams in Asia. We are grateful to the Government of Odisha and
the Sports and Youth Services Department for their continued support, and look
forward to welcoming all participating nations to Bhubaneswar.”
The championship also builds on a productive year for rugby at the
Kalinga Stadium. During 2026, the venue hosted three national-level
competitions — the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, the ASMITA
Rugby League – National and the National Rugby 15s Championship – Division 1.
The hosting of the Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Championship will add an international
dimension to the venue’s sporting calendar and underline Odisha’s continued
efforts to promote rugby at both the grassroots and elite levels.
The Indian U20 men’s and women’s squads selected for the championship are
as follows:
India U20 Men’s Squad
Pushpender (Captain), Rajan Rawat (Vice-Captain), Ajit Nag, Aman, Arun
Prajapat, Bharat Kisan, Bidyadhar Majhi, Charan Hembram, Naman Yadav, Rahul
Majhi, Rohit Kumar and Subash Hansdah.
India U20 Women’s Squad
Tanushree Bhosale (Captain), Mamali Singh (Vice-Captain), Akshaya NS, Anita Murmu, Anushka Sankpal, Dipali Tathe, Khushi Devi, Kirti Jadhav, Aditi Sakharam Londhe, Saloni Kumari, Samruddhi Kadam and Sumitra Murmu.
The 2026 championship will feature 10 participating nations — India, Hong Kong China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan. The men’s competition will feature 10 teams, while seven teams will compete in the women’s category. The two-day event at the Kalinga Stadium is expected to provide an exciting showcase of emerging rugby talent from across the continent, as the participating teams vie for honours at one of Asia’s key age-group competitions.
