The inaugural ASMITA Rugby League – National, a women-only rugby competition, will take place at Kalinga Stadium on January 31 and February 1, 2026.
The event will showcase the country’s top-performing state teams across senior and age-group categories.
The Sports Authority of India launched the ASMITA initiative under the Khelo India scheme to strengthen women’s sports. The Indian Rugby Football Union is conducting the tournament with support from the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
The National League concludes a six-month-long competitive structure designed to build pathways for women’s rugby across India. Eight state teams qualified through Rugby India’s Senior, Junior (U18), and Sub-Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championships (2025–26). In total, 24 teams with 336 players and officials will compete, making it one of the largest women’s rugby events in the country.
During the current season, organisers conducted 49 city-level ASMITA leagues and two zonal leagues nationwide. These competitions involved more than 8,771 athletes across 858 teams, reflecting the rapid growth of structured rugby opportunities for women and girls.
Indian Rugby Football Union President Rahul Bose highlighted the impact of the initiative. He said, “ASMITA has emerged as one of the most impactful women’s sports programmes in the country. The scale of participation shows how deeply the programme resonates on the ground. We are grateful to the Government of Odisha and Sports Odisha for their continued support and excellent facilities at Kalinga Stadium.”
The ASMITA Rugby League – National adds to Odisha’s growing reputation as a hub for rugby. The state recently hosted the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championships earlier this month, and now prepares for two days of high-quality women’s rugby action.
