Bhubaneswar, India, May 21, 2026: In a significant step towards celebrating 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries, the Indian Rugby Football Union and New Zealand Rugby will conduct a two-day high-performance coaching programme on May 21-22 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The initiative is organised under the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of New Zealand for the development of sport, and holds special significance as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting cooperation between the two countries.
ANI News Agency reported the programme will bring together selected coaches from across India, stratified into Foundation, Development and High-Performance categories, ensuring targeted learning outcomes across all levels of the coaching pathway.
The programme will combine classroom sessions, on-field practical demonstrations and interactive workshops delivered by expert educators from New Zealand Rugby.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said: “We are extremely pleased that a world-class coaching programme 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 sports.
“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,” Mandaviya added.
Echoing these sentiments, Mark Mitchell, New Zealand’s Minister for Sport and Recreation, 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.”