‘Rugby is gaining huge popularity in India’

Rugby has gained a lot of popularity in states like West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. If we get more support from the government and more people show interest, I am sure we will be able to represent India at the Olympics in the next 10 to 20 years. We should aim for that from now and take steps towards it.

Just like other sports, we really need to focus on the infrastructure. Most of the attention is given to cricket in our country. Our government needs to pay more attention to other sports as well. Though India does not have a big institutional support for rugby, it is doing its part for the other nations of the subcontinent. Bangladesh and Nepal are following India’s footsteps and picking up rugby and introducing them at the grassroots. 

After the success of the Asian Rugby 7s Olympic Pre-Qualifier 2015 held in Chennai last year, Asia Rugby and Rugby India have given us the honour of hosting the tournament again. It will be an intense tournament and feature 12 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams from across Asia. The participating countries are: South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Lebanon, Chinese Taipei and India.