India Shines at Inaugural CASA Rugby 7s: Men's Team Wins Silver, Women's Team Shows Promise

India's senior men's rugby team secured a silver medal, and the senior women's team finished fourth at the inaugural CASA Rugby 7s, 2026, a promising start for Rugby India in the international arena. The men's team's journey to the final was bolstered by four consecutive victories.

They triumphed over hosts Uzbekistan (24-12), Kyrgyzstan (31-0), Mongolia (26-14), and Pakistan (20-14), remaining unbeaten until a round-robin face-off with Sri Lanka (12-33). In the final, Sri Lanka claimed victory, relegating India to second place with a 10-31 finish amidst an encouraging campaign under new Head Coach Paul Albaladejo.

Meanwhile, the senior women's team, comprised of emerging talents, showed impressive character. Despite early losses against Uzbekistan (7-22) and Kazakhstan (7-19), they rebounded with a 72-0 win over Kyrgyzstan and a 33-0 victory against Mongolia. Their standout match was a dramatic 22-19 win against eventual winners Sri Lanka. Their campaign concluded with a close 14-20 loss to Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff.

Rugby India President Rahul Bose lauded the event as a 'valuable competition exposure,' noting several encouraging performances from both squads. Highlight performances included Mahak, who was named Women's Player of the Tournament with nine tries, while David Munda and Sumit Kumar Roy spearheaded the men's scoring.

(With inputs from agencies.)