Mumbai / Noida, September 19, 2025: The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for rugby in India, today announced a landmark partnership with NTPC Limited, India’s largest power-generating company, as part of its mission to further strengthen and support the development of rugby in the country.
This marks the first-ever collaboration between Rugby India and a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), underscoring the growing recognition of rugby as one of the fastest-growing Olympic sports in India.
Rugby has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with participation expanding to 28 states, 320+ districts, and over 100+ competitive players across the country. A majority of these athletes hail from rural and tribal regions, where the sport has played a significant role in driving social change and empowering young lives.
Rahul Bose, President, Rugby India, added:
“We are delighted to welcome NTPC into the Rugby India family. This partnership is historic for us, being our first with a PSU, and it comes at a time when Indian rugby is taking critical steps towards the Olympic dream of 2036. With our women’s team preparing for their debut in Asia’s premier Sevens Series and our men’s team aiming to earn qualification to the top tier, NTPC’s support will be invaluable in empowering our athletes, coaches, and support staff to achieve their best.”
The year 2025 is set to be a defining chapter in Indian rugby’s journey. The senior women’s team will make their historic debut in the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series in Hangzhou and Colombo, while the men’s team is set to compete at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in Muscat, Oman (25–26 October 2025), with the goal of qualifying for the premier division next year.
The support from NTPC will further strengthen Rugby India’s high-performance pathways as the teams prepare to compete against Asia’s best, while continuing the mission to target Olympic qualification by 2036.