Bhubaneswar to Host Asia Rugby U-20 Championship After Eight-Year Gap

Bhubaneswar will welcome international rugby back to Odisha after an eight-year gap as the city prepares to host the Asia Rugby Emirates Under-20 Sevens Championship 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium on November 14 and 15.

The two-day continental tournament will bring together 10 nations in both the men’s and women’s categories, making it a significant event for Indian rugby and Odisha’s sporting calendar.

Rugby India on Friday announced the Indian men’s and women’s squads for the championship. The hosts will look to make the most of home conditions as they compete against teams from across Asia.

The Indian women’s team will be particularly keen to build on its performance at the previous edition, where it secured a bronze medal in Rajgir, Bihar, in 2025. The men’s team, meanwhile, will aim to deliver a strong performance and challenge for the title on home soil.

The participating nations are India, Hong Kong China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan. Seven teams will compete in the women’s category.

The tournament also marks the return of international rugby to Odisha for the first time since 2018, when the state hosted the Asia Rugby Under-18 Girls Sevens Championship.

The Indian men’s squad will be led by Pushpender, with Rajan Rawat as vice-captain. The women’s team will have Tanushree Bhosale as captain and Mamali Singh as vice-captain.

With both teams preparing for the continental challenge, the championship will offer India’s young rugby players an opportunity to test themselves against some of the region’s emerging talent.