Rajgir, a historical city in Bihar, is preparing to host the Asia Rugby Under-20 Sevens Championship-2025, marking the first time the event is being held in the state. The championship will begin on Friday, featuring the best eight men’s and women’s teams from Asia, all competing for the coveted Asian title. The event will involve a total of 192 male and female players from nine countries, along with 32 coaches and support staff, and 50 technical officials. Spanning two days, from August 9th to 10th, the championship will feature a total of 40 matches. The opening ceremony will be attended by the State’s Sports Minister and the Rural Development Minister. Teams from China, Hong Kong, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and host nation India will participate in the men’s category. The women’s category includes teams from China, Hong Kong, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India. The Rajgir International Sports Complex is also preparing to host the Hero Cup Asian Hockey Championship later in August. The championship is significant for Bihar as the Indian Under-20 teams will include four female players and two male players from the state. International teams have started arriving in Rajgir, with teams from China already present. All teams will be greeted with a warm welcome at Patna’s airport and will be provided with high-level security during their stay in Rajgir. Rugby India’s President, Rahul Bose, highlighted the extensive preparation undertaken by the Indian teams, including a one-month training camp in Kolkata. The Indian teams will be coached by world-class coaches, including Francisco Hernandez and Kiano Fourie.
