Bhubaneswar

Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby will jointly conduct a two-day high-performance rugby coaching programme at Kalinga Stadium from Thursday as part of celebrations marking 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand.

Organised under a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two countries, the initiative will bring together selected coaches from across India in Foundation, Development and High-Performance categories.

According to a media release, the programme will feature classroom sessions, practical on-field demonstrations and interactive workshops conducted by expert educators from New Zealand Rugby.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the initiative reflects the shared commitment of both nations towards capacity building and knowledge exchange in sports.

He noted that the programme gains added significance as India and New Zealand commemorate a century of sporting cooperation in 2026. Mandaviya also thanked the Government of New Zealand and appreciated the efforts of Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby in making the collaboration possible.

New Zealand’s Minister for Sport and Recreation Mark Mitchell said the programme demonstrates the value of the sports cooperation agreement between the two countries.

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Rahul Bose, president of Rugby India, highlighted the importance of the initiative for the growth of rugby in India, saying the collaboration would strengthen technical capabilities while deepening the long-standing relationship between the two nations.