India national rugby union team
Union | Rugby India | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Naas Botha[1] | ||
Captain | Vikas Khatri | ||
| |||
World Rugby ranking | |||
Current | 86 (as of 3rd July 2023) | ||
First international | |||
Singapore 85–0 India (26 October 1998) | |||
Biggest win | |||
India 92–0 Pakistan (14 June 2008) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Singapore 85–0 India (26 October 1998) |
India national rugby union team is a national team that represents India in the international rugby championships and matches. It is governed by Rugby India organization which is recognised by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of government of India.
It was admitted to the
In 2005, they started their attempt to qualify for the
History
The national team was not started until 1998 however when the India national team played
In 2008 the India Rugby Union Team attempted to qualify for the Rugby World Cup again. This time though qualification was different as instead of the group stage India had to play in the 2008 Asian Five Nations and win it in order to move on to Round 2 in qualification. India though lost their first match against Thailand and had to settle for 3rd place after a 2nd place match win against Pakistan in which India achieved their biggest ever victory as they beat Pakistan 92–0.[7]
In 2019, South Africa legend and former South Africa national rugby union team player Nass Botha became the head coach of Indian men's and women's national teams. Under his supervision Rugby India held practice sessions, tryouts in different part of the India. As per Botha, India have to play at least 10-12 matches per year per season. India have 1.3 billion people, the country can form a competitive national team. 800 schools in the country have rugby 7 teams, these schools also have to make 15 players teams, It will increase talent pool. Even if 50-100 started their 15 player side.[8]
Stadium
India does not have its own personal stadium to use. When they play they usually do on local university fields throughout India.[9]
Strip
India have worn dark blue and black for all of their Rugby Union games since 2011 and prior to that, from 1998 to 2010, they used the traditional Indian sports colours of light blue and white. At present, the shirt and socks are dark blue and the shorts are black.[10]
Record
Asia Rugby Championship
India competes annually in the
Year | Host | Champion | India Record (W–L) | India Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Singapore | Singapore | 0–3 | 6th Place in Division 2 |
2002 | Thailand | Thailand | 0–3 | 7th Place in Division 2 |
2004 | Hong Kong | China | 1–1 | 3rd Place in Division 3 |
2007 | Sri Lanka | Iran | 1–1 | 2nd Place in Division 3 |
2008 | Thailand | Thailand | 1–1 | 3rd Place in Division 2 |
2009 | Malaysia | Malaysia | 1–1 | 3rd Place in Division 2 |
2010 | India | Philippines | 1–1 | 2nd Place in Division 2 |
2011 | Thailand | Chinese Taipei | 0–2 | 4th Place in Division 2 |
2012 | Indonesia | India | 2–0 | 1st Place in Division 3 |
2013 | Malaysia | Singapore | 0–2 | 4th Place in Division 2 |
2014 | Pakistan | Lebanon | 1–1 | 3rd Place in Division 3 West |
2015
|
Uzbekistan | India | 1–1 | 1st Place in Division 3 Central |
2017 | Chinese Taipei | Singapore | 0–2 | 4th Place in Division 2 |
2018 | Thailand | Chinese Taipei | 0–2 | 3rd Place in Division 2 |
2019 | Indonesia | China | 1–1 | 2nd Place in Division 3 East-South |
2022
|
India | India | 2–0 | 1st Place in Division 3 South |
2023 | Qatar | Qatar | 0–2 | 3rd Place in Division 2 |
World Cup
India has never played in the Rugby World Cup but they have attempted twice in 2005 and 2008 to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup and 2011 Rugby World Cups respectively.
Year | Host | Champion | India Finish | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 to 2003 | Various | Various | did not participate | |
2007 (Asian Qualification) | Various | Kazakhstan | Second in division 3 Pool B Round 1a | did not qualify |
2011 (Asian Qualification) | Thailand | Thailand | Third in first round | did not qualify |
2015 (Asian Qualification) | Various | Thailand | Second in division 2 and 3 | did not qualify |
2019 (Asian Qualification) | Various | Various | did not participate | |
2023 (Asian Qualification) | Various | Hong Kong | did not participate |
Overall records
The Test match record against all nations, updated to 6 May 2023, is as follows:[12]
Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arabian Gulf | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Bangladesh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
China | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
Chinese Taipei | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
Guam | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% |
Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Iran | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% |
Malaysia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
Nepal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Pakistan | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Philippines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
Qatar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Singapore | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% |
Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Thailand | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0% |
Uzbekistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% |
Total | 50 | 15 | 34 | 1 | 30% |
Recent matches
- Matches played in the last 12 months.
Squad
Squad to 2023 Asia Rugby Championship Division 2[13]
Player | Club |
---|---|
Vikas Khatri (c) | Haryana |
Prince Khatri (vc) | Haryana |
Neeraj Khatri | Haryana |
Prabal Giri | Delhi |
Pradeep Kumar Tanwar | Delhi |
Sanket Patil | Maharashtra |
Rajdeep Saha | West Bengal |
Shridhar Nigade | Maharashtra |
Shivam Shukla | Delhi |
Sukumar Hembram | West Bengal |
Suraj Prasad | West Bengal |
Suresh Kumar | Services |
Aakash Balmiki | West Bengal |
Ajay Deswal | Haryana |
Arpan Chhetri | West Bengal |
Deepak Punia | Haryana |
Bhupinder Singh | Services |
Dhanasekar Karunakar | Tamil Nadu |
Devendra Padir | Services |
Gaurav Kumar | Bihar |
Hitesh Dagar | Delhi |
Harjap SIngh | Punjab |
Jitendra Kumar | Services |
Mannu Tanwar | Delhi |
Surinder Singh | Services |
Mohit Khatri | Haryana |
See also
- History of rugby union
- Sport in India
- Rugby World Cup
- All blacks
References
Cited sources
- ^ "10–12 international matches is the minimum required for any national team, says Naas Botha". 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Indiarughby.com". Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Asiarugby.com". Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Indiarughby.com". Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "The day Leicester Tigers defeated India 153-0 - and Jim Hamilton bagged a hat-trick". Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "All You Need To Know About Indian Rugby Team". Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "No politics,only sport as India-Pak meet on another field". Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "10–12 international matches is the minimum required for any national team, says Naas Botha". Hindustan Times. 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "All You Need To Know About Indian Rugby Team". Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "All You Need To Know About Indian Rugby Team". Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Thus far hath rugby travelled in India (With: Rugby catching popular imagination, sees slow revival)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables – ESPN". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- ^ @RugbyIndia (28 April 2023). "The Indian men's squad is raring to go at the Asia Rugby Division 2 Championship in Qatar!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Further reading
- "Team India dominates Bangladesh 82–0 to qualify for Asia Rugby Division 3 Playoffs". uniindia.com. United News of India. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2022.