Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: Bhubaneswar is set to welcome international rugby back to Odisha after an eight-year hiatus, with the city scheduled to host the Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Sevens Championship 2026 at the Kalinga Stadium on November 14 and 15.

The Indian U20 men's and women's squads for the continental tournament were announced on Friday alongside the unveiling of its official logo. The event was jointly organised by the Sports and Youth Services Department (DSYS), Government of Odisha, Rugby India and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.

Odisha last hosted an international rugby tournament in 2018, when the Asia Rugby U18 Girls Sevens Championship was held in the state. The upcoming edition will see 10 nations compete across the men's and women's categories, bringing some of Asia's promising young rugby players to Bhubaneswar.

The championship's logo reflects the state's cultural identity, drawing inspiration from the traditional Jhoti Chita art of Odisha. The design features a semi-circular motif with a rugby ball at its centre, combining elements of the state's artistic heritage with the dynamism of rugby sevens.

For India, the tournament will provide an opportunity to test its emerging talent against strong continental opposition on home soil. The U20 women's side will be particularly keen to build on its performance in the previous edition, where it secured a bronze medal at the 2025 championship in Rajgir, Bihar. The men's team will also look to make its mark in the competition.

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Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department, said Odisha's continued support for rugby through national-level tournaments and development initiatives had helped create opportunities for athletes at different levels.

He said hosting the Asian championship would bring international rugby back to the state and provide young players with a platform to showcase their abilities.

Rahul Bose, president of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), termed the return of international rugby to Odisha a significant moment for the sport in India. He said hosting the championship would give the country's U20 men's and women's teams an opportunity to compete against some of Asia's emerging sides in front of a home crowd.

The tournament will further strengthen the Kalinga Stadium's position as a venue for rugby competitions. The stadium has already hosted three national-level tournaments in 2026 — the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, the ASMITA Rugby League – National and the National Rugby 15s Championship – Division 1.

The 10 participating nations are India, Hong Kong China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan. While 10 teams will compete in the men's category, seven teams will take part in the women's competition over the two days.

India U20 Men's squad:Pushpender (Captain), Rajan Rawat (Vice-Captain), Ajit Nag, Aman, Arun Prajapat, Bharat Kisan, Bidyadhar Majhi, Charan Hembram, Naman Yadav, Rahul Majhi, Rohit Kumar and Subash Hansdah.

India U20 Women's squad:Tanushree Bhosale (Captain), Mamali Singh (Vice-Captain), Akshaya NS, Anita Murmu, Anushka Sankpal, Dipali Tathe, Khushi Devi, Kirti Jadhav, Aditi Sakharam Londhe, Saloni Kumari, Samruddhi Kadam and Sumitra Murmu.