Rugby India began its international rugby season on a positive note as India’s Senior Men’s Team secured the silver medal while the Senior Women’s Team finished fourth at the inaugural CASA Rugby 7s 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
India’s Men’s Team delivered an impressive campaign, winning four consecutive matches to qualify for the final. The side defeated hosts Uzbekistan 24-12, Kyrgyzstan 31-0, Mongolia 26-14 and Pakistan 20-14 before suffering their first defeat against Sri Lanka 12-33 in the final round-robin fixture.
India once again faced Sri Lanka in the tournament final, where they finished runners-up after a 10-31 defeat in the title clash. The campaign marked an encouraging start under newly appointed head coach Paul Albaladejo.
Meanwhile, India’s Senior Women’s Team, featuring several young and emerging players identified through domestic competitions and Senior Nationals, displayed strong character throughout the tournament. The team began with defeats against Uzbekistan (7-22) and Kazakhstan (7-19) on the opening day.
The Women’s Team bounced back strongly with a dominant 72-0 win over Kyrgyzstan, followed by a 33-0 victory against Mongolia on Day 2.
One of the standout moments of the tournament came when India defeated eventual champions Sri Lanka 22-19, handing them their only loss of the competition through a dramatic last-minute try by Mahak.
India eventually finished fourth after losing 14-20 to hosts Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff.
Reacting to the performances, Rugby India President Rahul Bose said the tournament provided valuable international exposure for both teams and highlighted several encouraging performances as preparations continue for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Mahak was named the Women’s Player of the Tournament after emerging as India’s top scorer with nine tries. For the Men’s Team, David Munda and Sumit Kumar Roy scored four tries each, while Devendra Padir and Hitesh Dagar added three tries apiece. Women’s captain Parbati Hansdah contributed 12 conversions during the tournament.
Officially sanctioned by Asia Rugby and World Rugby, the CASA Rugby 7s marked the inaugural edition of a new Rugby Sevens competition featuring nations from Central and South Asia.
