India's U20 women's rugby team stuns Māori sevens side 17–0 in historic victory
An Indian defender attempts a tackle during the India–New Zealand Under-20 rugby series in Rajgir, Bihar, on October 27, 2026. (Supplied photo)
A dominant defensive display in Bihar gave India's young women a landmark win during a centenary sporting exchange.
India's Under-20 women's rugby team has recorded a memorable 17–0 victory over a visiting Māori side from New Zealand during a bilateral rugby sevens series in the eastern state of Bihar.
The Indian women kept their opponents scoreless in a match that formed part of celebrations marking 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand.
The series, held from October 23 to 28 at the Rajgir Sports Complex, brought specially selected Māori Under-20 rugby sevens teams to India for a sporting and cultural exchange.
The trip at strengthening bilateral ties and supporting the development of rugby in India. The visiting women's team, Hine Toa, and men's team, Tama Toa, comprised 24 young Māori players selected from across New Zealand.
India led 12–0 at halftime in the women's encounter on October 27 before adding another five points after the break to complete the victory. The result was particularly notable given New Zealand's international reputation as a rugby powerhouse.
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The visiting side was not New Zealand's regular national Under-20 women's team, but a specially-assembled Māori invitational squad representing the country's Indigenous rugby community.
While the Indian women celebrated their victory, the New Zealand visitors claimed the honours in the men's contest, with Tama Toa defeating India's Under-20 men 32–0.
According to New Zealand Rugby, the 24 players were accompanied by six management staff, with the tour funded by New Zealand's foreign ministry.
Before leaving New Zealand on October 21, delegation leader Manu Albert said the visit was about more than winning matches.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating 100 years of sport uniting our two countries, helping Rugby India grow Sevens, and sharing our rugby knowledge, but equally to share our cultures and develop a lasting relationship through sport,” Albert said.
He acknowledged the matches would have a competitive element, while emphasising the opportunity to help develop India's young players and coaches. The sporting exchange also brought Māori culture to Bihar, with the visitors performing a haka at the Rajgir Sports Complex.
In an unusual feature of the series, players from both countries subsequently joined forces for two mixed-team exhibition matches, playing alongside the opponents they had faced earlier.
The visit was part of the 100 Years of Unity through Sport initiative, commemorating a century of sporting relations between India and New Zealand.
A hundred years ago, an Indian hockey team's visit to New Zealand helped introduce local players to new approaches to the game. The 2026 rugby exchange offered a reversal of that journey, with New Zealand athletes travelling to India to share their skills and traditions.
Rugby India president Rahul Bose described the visit as a significant moment for the relationship between the two countries.
“For our young players, the opportunity to compete against New Zealand opposition on home soil will provide valuable exposure to the best practices in international rugby and impetus to their development,” Bose said ahead of the series.
The exchange followed a visit by New Zealand Rugby coaches to Bhubaneswar in May, when they conducted workshops for 35 Indian coaches at Kalinga Stadium.
