India-New Zealand U20 rugby series ends in Rajgir, first-ever mixed-team matches played

What happened

The India-New Zealand U20 rugby series concluded on Tuesday at the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar. According to information released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the event was held under the ‘100 Years of Unity Through Sport’ initiative, which marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand.

The event was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, Bihar’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Shreyasi Singh, New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner to India Matt Ayers, Bihar Rugby Football Association president and Bihar Legislative Council member Sanjay Mayukh, and Rugby India president Rahul Bose.

What took place in the series

The series brought together the U20 men’s and women’s teams of India and New Zealand. The programme included joint training sessions, cultural exchanges and four ‘Rugby Sevens’ matches. These included two mixed-team matches, held for the first time in history, in which national-level players from both countries played in the same team.

The New Zealand delegation included the U20 men’s team ‘Tama Toa’ and the U20 women’s team ‘Hine Toa’, with 24 young Maori players. The visit gave the players a chance to learn about Indian culture and to share their own traditions with their Indian counterparts.

What the ministers said

Raksha Khadse said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is steadily strengthening its global engagement through sport, and sport is being seen as a strong form of ‘soft power’. She said the series shows how sport can cross borders to build mutual understanding and friendship.

Bihar minister Shreyasi Singh said hosting the event in Rajgir was a matter of pride for the state, and that Bihar is committed to strengthening its sports ecosystem and creating more opportunities for young athletes. Rugby India president Rahul Bose said the mixed-team matches were an important part of the exchange and expressed hope that the bonds formed in Rajgir would continue.

Earlier cooperation

The series builds on growing cooperation between Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby. In May 2026, Rugby India hosted New Zealand Rugby’s coaching instructors at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where a coaching development programme was held for 35 Indian coaches. The aim was to strengthen coaching capacity and support the growth of rugby in India.

What this means for ordinary people

This is information about a sporting event. The release states no application, registration, payment or deadline for the general public, so there is nothing people need to do. Players and coaches connected with rugby may see this cooperation in terms of future opportunities.