Get Into Rugby helps India grow the game

Drvien by World Rugby's mass participation programme Get Into Rugby, rugby is enjoying heady progress in India. The playing population has risen by over 43,000 to nearly 125,000 in the last 12 months across both genders and the number of coaches and trainers has gone up accordingly.

In the first quarter of 2016 alone, over 10,000 boys and girls have been introduced to the sport, which is now played in one form or another in two-thirds of the country's 36 states.

World Rugby caught up with the General Manager of India Rugby Football Union, Nasser Hussain, to find out what plans are being put in place to ensure the sport continues on an upward trajectory.

World Rugby: How do you intend to keep growing the game in the next few years?

Nasser Hussain: We plan to continue to roll out the 'Try' or beginner phase of World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby mass participation programme at the grassroots level and have the participant gradually progress and advance to the 'Play' phase. To support such growth our focus is on training and education so that there are more coaches and match officials aware of the sport. In addition, now that we have established a good platform at the base level, we believe it is time to invest in the promotion and marketing of the sport so we can spread awareness about rugby within the country.

World Rugby: Which specific Get Into Rugby projects have been particularly successful so far?

NH: Our GIR approach is twofold – direct (working with participants) and indirect (working with PE teachers and sports coaches). Through trial and error, we’ve seen that an ‘event or tournament driven’ approach works better as it gives the people involved something to work towards – thus making them a bit more focused. Rugby’s inclusion in the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) has by default provided us the tournaments and we now conduct GIR activities, both direct and indirect, to ensure that game is introduced to all.

World Rugby: Is it feasible to get rugby played in each of the 36 states in India and what obstacles are there to achieving this?

NH: Realistically, at this stage, it is not possible to reach out to the 36 states and union territories in India. Currently, we have 24 states playing active rugby, both men and women, across all age groups and we aim to continue with these and support the development so we can establish them further. In terms of the challenges, one of biggest obstacles in the development the game is the lack of infrastructure and facilities. We are exploring various possibilities so as to address this issue.

World Rugby: What do newcomers to the sport in India particularly enjoy about rugby?

NH: For anyone to continue playing or being associated with a sport it has to be fun and there has to be a sense of belonging. We at Rugby India strive to offer a fun and lasting experience which along with the camaraderie that the sport has is what attracts people to this wonderful game. Lately, we are seeing that the sport is associated as being cool and aspirational for the youth of today.

World Rugby: How influential is rugby sevens – and its inclusion in the Olympics – to the growth of rugby in general in India?

NH: Rugby sevens is a great showcase sport to get more people involved in the game, both as a participant as well as a spectator/follower. The inclusion of rugby sevens in the Olympics has given the sport extra credibility and importance in India. Being an Olympic sport has helped immensely, as rugby is now being seen in a different light and being taken more seriously within the country. It has also helped to include the sport within various organisations and has opened doors within the Sports Ministry and other Government departments. Being fast paced, exciting, action packed and easy to grasp, rugby sevens can be instrumental in growing the game and spreading awareness of the sport within the country and in terms of popularity and following, it can have a similar impact as T20 cricket, if positioned correctly and strategically.

World Rugby: What are the long-term goals of the Indian Rugby Football Union?

NH: Our vision is FOR India (Future of Rugby: India). Our long-term goal is to reach out to as many participants as possible and ensure maximum involvement. Along with this, it is to improve the overall playing standard and competitiveness of the sport across India.

World Rugby: What sort of player pathway exists so that children can continue to play rugby once they reach adulthood?

NH: National level tournaments (with state team participation) are held for the senior, junior (under-18) and sub-junior (under-14) age categories, for both boys and girls. The senior and junior events follow the rugby sevens format while the sub-juniors play touch rugby. Besides this, a two-tier senior national rugby 15s tournament is held for the men with a promotion and relegation system along with an under-20 national rugby 15s tournament for boys.

With respect to the women, a regional rugby 10s tournament has been held and it has been proposed to host the inaugural senior women’s rugby 15s tournament later this year. Moreover, the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) organises a national rugby sevens schools tournament for the under-19 and under-17 age categories, for both boys and girls. We are currently in talks with the SGFI to include the under-14 age category within their calendar for both boys and girls. However, initially this would be played using the touch rugby format. In addition to this, a local competition is held within many of the centres in each region. This is again held across all age-groups and involves both boys and girls.

World Rugby: How important is it for the Indian national team (ranked 78th) to keep on progressing as a showcase for the sport?

NH: It is imperative for the national team to perform and progress on the international arena as we need to create heroes and role models from within the fraternity who the future crop of players can look up to admire.