For decades, Indian Rugby existed on the fringes of the country’s sporting consciousness, sustained largely by pockets of grassroots enthusiasm rather than systemic support.
In 2025, that reality changed decisively. Indian Rugby 7s delivered tangible progress across competitive performance, infrastructure, governance, and commercial viability. What emerged over the past year was not a fleeting surge, but a blueprint for sustainable growth built through careful planning and execution .
Women’s Rugby: From Survival to Stability at the Elite Level
The most visible marker of progress came from the Indian Senior Women’s Rugby 7s team, which competed in Asia’s top-tier Emirates Sevens Series for the first time. Historically ranked outside the continental elite, India entered the 2025 season with modest expectations. What followed, however, was a composed and competitive campaign that ended with a 6th-place overall finish, signaling that India no longer belongs in the lower rungs of Asian rugby.
Key results underlined this transition. A commanding 24–5 victory over the Philippines in Hangzhou avenged a Trophy-level defeat from the previous year and announced India’s arrival at elite level. Competitive losses against Kazakhstan and Thailand further illustrated that the gap with Asia’s traditional powerhouses is narrowing. Crucially, India showed improved conditioning and defensive structure, allowing them to maintain intensity across two-day tournament formats something that had previously been a limitation .
Players such as Sandhyarani Tudu, Shikha, and Kalyani emerged as consistent performers, while the team’s ability to close out placement matches against UAE and Malaysia highlighted growing mental resilience. For a program long defined by inconsistency, stability itself became the biggest achievement.
Men’s Team Promotion: A Historic Step Forward
If the women consolidated their elite status, the Indian Senior Men’s Rugby 7s team made history by earning promotion to Asia’s top division for the first time. Competing in the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in Muscat, India entered the tournament knowing that a top-two finish was essential.
Under head coach Ben Gollings, the team delivered a tactically disciplined campaign. Wins over Lebanon and Afghanistan set the tone, while knockout victories against Iran and Saudi Arabia secured promotion before the final. Although India were comprehensively outplayed by Kazakhstan in the final, the objective had already been achieved.
Promotion to Division 1 marks a fundamental shift. From 2026, Indian men will regularly face elite sides such as Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The physical gap exposed in the Trophy final has provided clear technical direction for the next phase strength, conditioning, and breakdown efficiency.
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One of the most important developments of 2025 was the strategic decentralization of rugby infrastructure. Hosting the Asia Rugby Under-20 Sevens Championship at the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar reflected a conscious effort to take international rugby beyond traditional centers.
The results justified the decision. India’s U-20 women won bronze, defeating Uzbekistan in the playoff, with four players from Bihar forming the core of the squad. Their success highlighted how regional investment can convert raw participation into elite outcomes. The presence of the Bihar Sports University, combined with Khelo India-linked initiatives such as the ASMITA League, has turned Rajgir into a genuine high-performance hub rather than a symbolic venue .
Rugby Premier League: A Commercial and Technical Disruptor
Perhaps the most transformative development of the year was the launch of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) the world’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s league. Sanctioned by World Rugby and granted a dedicated international window, the RPL attracted 30 elite international players and coaches from rugby’s strongest nations.
For Indian players, the impact was immediate. Training and competing alongside Olympic champions and World Rugby award winners compressed years of learning into weeks. The league’s technical quality evidenced by over 200 tries in 34 matches set a new domestic benchmark. Chennai Bulls’ dominant title win further underscored the standards required to succeed in this environment .
Equally significant was the league’s broadcast and sponsorship footprint. With coverage on Star Sports and JioHotstar, rugby reached mainstream audiences for the first time, attracting a diverse sponsorship portfolio spanning finance, nutrition, and public-sector enterprises.
Behind the on-field results lies a governance shift that prioritises athlete welfare. The introduction of stipends for national campers—covering nearly 220 players across age groups has been transformative, particularly for athletes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This financial stability has reduced dropout rates and allowed players to view rugby as a legitimate career pathway rather than a short-term pursuit .
While governance challenges surfaced during the year, the broader structural reforms have improved transparency and professional accountability, ensuring that growth is not personality-driven but system-led.
The real test begins in 2026. For the women, the next target is moving from sixth into podium contention in Asia. For the men, survival and competitiveness in Division 1 will define the next phase. The RPL is expected to expand its scouting and developmental reach, while regional hubs like Rajgir and Odisha will remain central to talent production.
Indian Rugby’s 2025 season will be remembered not for a single medal or match, but for something more valuable: proof that with strategic intent, even a marginalized sport can build a credible high-performance ecosystem. Rugby in India is no longer an experiment. It is a system in motion.
