The Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India), in collaboration with New Zealand Rugby, successfully conducted the India-New Zealand Rugby Coaching Programme at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on May 21 and 22, 2026, as part of the India-New Zealand: 100 Years of Sporting Ties initiative.
The two-day programme brought together 34 coaches from across India for interactive classroom sessions, practical on-field learning, and collaborative discussions led by New Zealand Rugby experts Allan Bunting, Kahu Carey, and Vania Wolfgramm. Coaches participated across Foundation, Development, and High-Performance pathways, reflecting the shared commitment of both nations towards strengthening rugby through knowledge exchange and long-term sporting partnerships.
Photo: LinkedIn/Rugby India
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said, “We are extremely pleased that a world-class coaching program for rugby is being conducted between the Indian and New Zealand rugby federations. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to capacity building and knowledge exchange in sport. As we mark 100 years of sporting cooperation between India and New Zealand in 2026, such partnerships carry added importance. We are grateful to the Government of New Zealand and commend the efforts of the Indian Rugby Football Union and New Zealand Rugby in bringing this collaboration to fruition.”
According to a report by the News Mill, New Zealand’s Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mark Mitchell, said, “Programmes like this show the value of the sports cooperation agreement between our two countries. As we mark 100 Years of Unity through Sport this year, sharing expertise helps build sporting capability in New Zealand and India, while strengthening our wider partnership.”
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, described the programme as a significant step for Indian rugby and said, “The coaching programme with New Zealand Rugby is a landmark initiative for Indian Rugby. It provides a unique opportunity for our domestic coaches to engage directly with one of the most successful rugby systems in the world and gain insights that can be immediately applied within our domestic structures. This collaboration not only strengthens our technical capabilities but also reinforces the long-standing relationship between the two nations. We thank the sports ministries of both India and New Zealand for their support in enabling such a meaningful partnership,” the News Mill has quoted.
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India. Photo: LinkedIn/Rugby India
Steve Lancaster also welcomed the initiative, stating, “New Zealand Rugby is proud to be part of Sport NZ’s 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme between India and New Zealand. The coaching exchange in India presents an opportunity to build a relationship with Rugby India and further grow rugby’s global footprint. Our people are looking forward to sharing their expertise, working alongside India’s coaches and young players, and elevating Rugby India’s player pathways,” as quoted by the News Mill.
Through a LinkedIn post, Rugby India thanked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, Sports Authority of India, Government of Odisha, the New Zealand High Commission, and New Zealand Rugby for their support in making the initiative successful and further strengthening sporting ties between the two nations.