Rajgir, Bihar (India) — A momentous U20 Rugby Series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to be held in Rajgir as part of the initiative commemorating 100 Years of Unity through Sport, which honors a century of sporting relations between the two nations. The matches are set to occur from October 23 to October 28 at the Rajgir Sports Complex.

Both the Indian U20 teams and their New Zealand counterparts have arrived in Rajgir ahead of the series. Upon their arrival at Patna Airport, the New Zealand teams were welcomed in a traditional manner. Throughout their stay, the teams will engage in joint training sessions as well as cultural exchanges before the matches commence on October 27.

The New Zealand squads, known as Tama Toa (men’s team) and Hine Toa (women’s team), consist of 24 young Maori players who have been selected from across New Zealand. This series marks a significant occasion as it is the first time that New Zealand’s U20 rugby teams have traveled to India for such an event, making Rajgir a key location in the evolving sports relationship between the two nations.

Rajgir has been recognized as a pivotal site for rugby in India, having previously hosted the Senior National Rugby Championships in April 2026 and the Asia Rugby Emirates U-20 Championship in August 2025. The upcoming India-New Zealand U20 Rugby Series is expected to further enhance the city’s association with rugby and contribute to its status as a host of international sporting events.

The series will conclude on October 27 with four Rugby Sevens matches at the Rajgir Sports Complex, featuring a men’s match between India and New Zealand, a women’s match, and two mixed matches that will pair players from both countries together.

Raveendran Sankaran, the Director General-cum-CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority, expressed his enthusiasm about the event, stating, “Rajgir hosting the India-New Zealand U20 Rugby Series is a proud moment for Bihar and reflects the state’s growing role in hosting major sporting events. Welcoming young players from both countries provides an opportunity to strengthen international sporting ties, encourage cultural exchange, and inspire more young people in Bihar to take up rugby. We look forward to supporting the continued development of sports in the state and creating more opportunities for athletes to train, compete, and excel.”

Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union, shared his thoughts, saying, “100 years ago, New Zealand and India created history by establishing sporting ties between the two nations. Today, 100 years later, history will be created again with the first-ever New Zealand rugby team visiting Indian shores. For our young players, the opportunity to compete against New Zealand opposition on home soil will provide valuable exposure to the best practices in international rugby and assist in their development. Training together, playing matches against each other, and then (the highlight for me) playing two more matches as mixed teams (IND-NZ). What better testament to the power of sport in making nations stand shoulder to shoulder.”

Manu Albert, Head of the New Zealand Rugby delegation and Injury Prevention Wellbeing Programme Manager, added, “We’re looking forward to celebrating 100 years of sport uniting our two countries, helping Rugby India grow Sevens, and sharing our rugby knowledge, but equally to sharing our cultures and developing a lasting relationship through sport. There will no doubt be a competitive edge when the respective teams meet on the field, and we’re excited to contribute to the development of India’s young rugby players and coaches.”

This series builds upon the burgeoning rugby relationship between India and New Zealand. In May 2026, Rugby India hosted New Zealand Rugby coaches at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, for coaching workshops involving 35 Indian coaches. The Rajgir series continues this collaboration, bringing young athletes from both nations together through competition and cultural exchange.

Indian U20 Squads for the India-New Zealand U20 Rugby Series:

• Men: Ajit Nag, Aman, Arun Prajapati, Bajrangi Kumar, Bharat Kisan, Bidyadhar Majhi, Charan Hembram, Naman Yadav, Pranav Gavit, Pushpender, Rahul Majhi, Rajan Rawat, Rohit Kumar, Sagar Prakash, Shivam, Subash Hansdah
• Women: Akshaya NS, Alpana Kumari, Anita Murmu, Anushka Sankpal, Arti Kumari, Beauty Kumari, Dipali Tathe, Khushi Devi, Kirti Jadhav, Aditi Londhe, Mamali Singh, Raimani Murmu, Saloni Kumari, Samruddhi Kadam, Sumitra Murmu, Tanushree Bhosale.