Rajgir in Bihar will host an India–New Zealand Under-20 Rugby Series from 22 to 28 October 2026. New Zealand’s under-20 men’s and women’s teams, named Tama Toa and Hine Toa, will play Indian under-20 teams. The series is linked to 100 years of sports cooperation between India and New Zealand.
Series Format and Schedule
The tour will include joint training sessions and cultural and community engagements. Four competitive Rugby Sevens matches are scheduled for 27 October: a men’s match, a women’s match and two mixed matches featuring players from both countries. Rugby Sevens is a version of rugby union played by seven players per team, compared with 15 in the standard format. New Zealand’s touring squads comprise 24 young Māori players and a six-member management group. The tour is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Māori are the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.
Rugby Organisations and Previous Exchange
The Indian Rugby Football Union is the national governing body for rugby in India. New Zealand Rugby is the national governing body for rugby in New Zealand. Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union, and Manu Albert, Head of the New Zealand Rugby delegation, are associated with the exchange. In May 2026, Rugby India hosted New Zealand Rugby coaches in Bhubaneswar for workshops attended by 35 Indian coaches. The October series follows that coaching exchange and includes both training and competitive matches.
Rugby Sevens: Exam Context
Rugby union is an oval-ball team sport in which players advance the ball by running or kicking, while forward passes are not permitted. Rugby Sevens follows the laws of rugby union, with teams fielding seven players at a time.
Important Facts for Exams
- Rugby Sevens made its Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
- A standard Rugby Sevens match lasts 14 minutes, divided into two seven-minute halves.
- World Rugby is the international governing body for rugby union and Rugby Sevens.
- Rugby Sevens is played by seven players per team on a full-sized rugby pitch.
The India–New Zealand Under-20 Rugby Series is scheduled to conclude on 28 October 2026, with its four competitive matches set for 27 October.
