India and New Zealand Mark 100 Years of Sporting Ties with Under-20 Rugby Series

A Celebration of Sporting Friendship

The Under-20 rugby series between India and New Zealand concluded in Rajgir, Bihar, on Tuesday. The event served as a landmark celebration of the 100-year history of sporting friendship between the two nations.

Delegations and Participation

The New Zealand delegation featured two teams comprising 24 young Māori athletes:

• Tama Toa (U-20 men's team)
• Hine Toa (U-20 women's team)

Key Program Highlights

The series was designed to foster cultural exchange and athletic growth through several initiatives:

• Joint Training Sessions: Athletes participated in shared drills and skill-building activities.
• Cultural Exchange: The program focused on interpersonal connection and sharing rugby knowledge.
• Competitive Matches: A total of four Sevens matches were held, which notably included the debut of mixed-team matches in this bilateral context.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

This series is part of a broader collaborative effort between Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby. This foundation was supported by previous initiatives, such as a coaching development program held in May 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where 35 Indian coaches received training from New Zealand educators.

Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that the event exemplifies how sports foster mutual understanding. The closing event in Rajgir was attended by several notable figures, including:

• Samrat Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar
• Shreyasi Singh, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Bihar
• Matt Ayers, Acting High Commissioner of New Zealand in India
• Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India

For further information on future sporting exchanges, stakeholders are encouraged to monitor official announcements from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports or Rugby India.