When the whistle blows on August 9th in Rajgir, Bihar, it won’t just signal the start of the Asian U20 Rugby Championship Emirates Sevens 2025 it will open a chapter that Indian rugby has been patiently waiting to write.
For the first time, India will host Asia’s flagship age-grade Sevens tournament, welcoming teams from across the continent, including strong contenders like Hong Kong China, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and the UAE. For Indian rugby, this isn’t just another tournament: it’s a long-overdue opportunity to show how far the U20 system has come, built on a foundation of grassroots work, state-level dominance by Bihar, and the momentum from the recently launched Rugby Premier League (RPL).
The build-up to this tournament has been anything but straightforward. The cancellation of the Asia Rugby U20 Sevens Championship in 2024 left India’s U20 players without a dedicated international platform last year. Instead, they had to rely on U18 tournaments, senior national competitions and domestic leagues for competitive exposure. Yet even without the chance to compete directly against their age-group rivals internationally, Indian youth rugby didn’t stall.
It evolved quietly, sometimes out of the spotlight, in packed school grounds and state championships, fueled by local coaches and young athletes determined to step onto the continental stage. Now, in Rajgir a city whose name itself carries the weight of history the Indian U20 teams finally get to see where they truly stand.
From Domestic Dominance to Asian Ambition
At the heart of this build-up lies Bihar’s remarkable rise as India’s rugby heartland. The state’s dominance has been most visible at the Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025, held in Dehradun this July. Bihar not only defended their U18 girls’ title with a 14-5 win over Odisha, conceding just one try all tournament, but also won the U18 boys’ title after a dramatic 17-15 final victory over Odisha, secured by a last-minute try from Goldan Kumar.
Such performances reflect a grassroots system that has produced not just competitive teams but standout individuals ready for the national stage.
For the women’s U20 team, the pathway to Rajgir was equally defined by Bihar’s strength at the senior level. In April 2025, at the Senior National Women’s Rugby 7s Championship in Guwahati, Bihar dethroned defending champions Odisha 21-12. U20-eligible stars Aarti Kumari and Anshu Kumari each scored 12 tries across the tournament, showing they can compete and excel against seasoned seniors. Even more impressively, these players balanced U18 commitments with senior success, proving their adaptability.
Meanwhile, the Rugby Premier League (RPL) 2025 offered a different kind of proving ground. As India’s first professional Sevens competition, featuring overseas players and city-based franchises, it provided U20 athletes with exposure to faster, more tactical rugby. Players like Sumit Kumar Roy, captain of the men’s U20 side, earned praise for fearless tackling and consistency under pressure.
Karan Rajbhar, the U20 vice-captain, was bought by Bengaluru Bravehearts for INR 80,000, reflecting his value as a “Hybrid” player, comfortable across positions. Competing in the RPL meant playing alongside and sometimes against senior internationals, a step up that no domestic age-group tournament alone could offer.
Spotlight on Players and the Challenge Ahead
While domestic success has built momentum, Rajgir presents a wholly different challenge. Asian youth rugby has grown sharper and deeper; teams like Hong Kong China and Sri Lanka arrive with players used to regular age-grade international competition. The Indian U20 squads must close that gap, relying on talent, resilience, and the home crowd’s energy.
For the men’s team, leadership comes from Sumit Kumar Roy, whose performance in the RPL underlined his defensive strengths and composure. His deputy, Karan Rajbhar, brings versatility and experience from professional play. Goldan Kumar, the U18 star from Bihar, adds finishing power that could be decisive in tight matches.
Supporting them are players like Sagar Prakash, Ajit Nag, Bharat Kisan, Charan Hembram, David Munda, Deshraj Singh, Rajan Rawat, Rohit Shaw and Shivam names that may not yet be familiar beyond rugby circles but whose form in national tournaments earned them the call.
On the women’s side, the story is equally compelling. Bhumika Shukla, the U20 captain, combines U18 international pedigree with the calm leadership needed at this level. Vice-captain Tanushree Bhosale, who captained the Indian U18 team to silver at the 2023 Asia Rugby U18 Championship, brings tactical awareness and big-game temperament.
Players like Anshu Kumari, who led Bihar’s U18 and senior teams in scoring, and Aarti Kumari, whose senior-level scoring power is well documented (pending her recovery from a serious knee injury), give India an attack capable of unsettling stronger opponents.
Other squad members Alpana Kumari, Guriya Kumari, Kyra Vincent, Akshaya NS, Mahak, Mamali Singh, Muskan Piploda and Ritu Majhi highlight the blend of proven performers and emerging talents, many of them products of Bihar’s robust system. Players like Kyra Vincent, who was part of India’s silver-winning U18 team in 2022, bring valuable experience of competing in Asian finals, an asset few U20 teams can boast.
Beyond Results: Why Rajgir 2025 Matters
Beyond medals and scores, Rajgir 2025 is a test of India’s rugby vision: can the synergy of state dominance, national tournaments, and professional leagues create teams that not only win domestically but compete internationally? The answer will shape more than just this generation. If the Indian U20 teams hold their own, it will validate years of groundwork and energize new investment in youth rugby across more states beyond Bihar. If gaps emerge, it will highlight where pathways and international exposure still need strengthening.
The tournament’s location itself carries symbolism. Hosting in Bihar whose players now make up much of the national U20 squads — underscores how regional development can power national success. It’s also a chance for local fans, many seeing international rugby live for the first time, to witness their own athletes face Asia’s best.
The Indian U20 Squads
As India readies to face continental rivals, here are the squads set to wear the national jersey at Rajgir:
Men’s U20 Squad:
- Sumit Kumar Roy (Captain)
- Karan Rajbhar (Vice-Captain)
- Goldan Kumar
- Sagar Prakash
- Ajit Nag
- Bharat Kisan
- Charan Hembram
- David Munda
- Deshraj Singh
- Rajan Rawat
- Rohit Shaw
- Shivam
Women’s U20 Squad:
- Bhumika Shukla (Captain)
- Tanushree Bhosale (Vice-Captain)
- Aarti Kumari
- Anshu Kumari
- Alpana Kumari
- Guriya Kumari
- Kyra Vincent
- Akshaya NS
- Mahak
- Mamali Singh
- Muskan Piploda
- Ritu Majhi
As Rajgir 2025 begins, the Indian U20 teams carry more than hope: they carry proof that youth rugby here isn’t an afterthought but a movement. And while the scoreboard will matter, the real victory may lie in what these young athletes inspire for the future of Indian rugby.
