Muscat, October 26, 2025: India’s Senior Men’s Rugby Sevens team concluded their Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy (AREST) campaign in Muscat as runners-up, securing promotion to the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) – Asia’s top-tier rugby sevens competition.
Coached by former England star Ben Gollings, the team displayed discipline, skill, and resilience throughout the tournament. India began their campaign with a spirited 14-10 comeback victory over Lebanon, followed by a 26-5 win against Afghanistan to conclude the group stage. They carried that momentum into the knockout rounds, defeating Iran 21-7 in the quarterfinals on Day 1, before producing a clinical 17-0 semifinal victory against Saudi Arabia to book their place in the final.
In the summit clash, India put up a strong and competitive performance against the tournament’s top seeds but fell short to Kazakhstan with a 0-27 scoreline. The team’s journey reflected growing consistency, maturity under pressure, and the tangible results of Rugby India’s focused development pathways and high-performance initiatives.
Speaking on the runners-up finish Head coach Ben Gollings said, “I’m incredibly proud of this team. In a short span, the players have shown immense dedication, focus, and teamwork, achieving a significant milestone for Indian rugby with promotion to the top-tier Sevens Series. Every player and staff member contributed to our progress, and while the final wasn’t ours, this experience lays a strong foundation as we move forward and continue to grow.”
Indian Rugby Football Union President Rahul Bose added, “This tournament is another demonstration of the steady progress and belief within Indian men’s rugby. The team showed heart, discipline, and skill across every match, and while the final didn’t go in our favour, the journey to reach this stage speaks volumes about our growth. I want to congratulate our players, coaching staff, and support teams for their dedication and perseverance throughout the competition. We also extend our congratulations to Kazakhstan for a hard-fought and well-earned victory. The experience gained here will be invaluable as we continue to build Indian rugby for the future.”
The team’s performance comes on the back of the GMR Rugby Premier League (GMR RPL) doing exceptionally well in its inaugural season, where Indian players gained valuable experience competing against top domestic and international stars, sharpening their skills and understanding of high-pressure matches.
The runners-up finish will see India consolidates its place among Asia’s competitive rugby sevens nations like Hong Kong China, Japan, Sri Lanka, and China.
The campaign underscores the growing ambition, preparation, and capability of Indian Rugby. With both the Senior Men’s and Women’s teams now part of Asia Rugby’s premier divisions, the Muscat tournament has laid a solid foundation for the future – a testament to collective effort, commitment, and the continued rise of Indian Rugby on the continental stage.