India and New Zealand celebrated 100 years of sporting relations through a special rugby coaching programme at Kalinga Stadium, bringing together top New Zealand Rugby coaches and Indian rugby mentors for collaboration, learning and cultural exchange.
The programme, held from 20–22 May 2026 under the “100 Years of Sporting Ties” initiative, marked a historic relationship that began with the Indian Army hockey team’s tour of New Zealand in 1926.
Leading New Zealand Rugby coaches Allan Bunting, Vania Wolfgramm and Kahu Carey worked with 35 rugby coaches from across India through practical and technical sessions focused on player development, leadership and creating high-performance sporting environments.
The opening day included a session on artificial intelligence in sport led by Shankar Sivaramakrishnan, highlighting the increasing role of technology in modern coaching and performance analysis.
A plenary session followed with speeches from Rahul Bose, Odisha Sports Commissioner and Secretary Bhupinder Singh Poonia, and New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to India Matt Ayers.
Participants also took part in New Zealand Rugby’s “He Tangata” philosophy, which focuses on people, relationships and culture, along with interactive activities and on-field coaching sessions.
The second day centred on developing world-class high-performance systems and strengthening coaching structures and player pathways in India.
The New Zealand delegation also interacted with young athletes at the KISS Foundation, reflecting the programme’s wider focus on youth development and grassroots sports initiatives.
Organisers described the event as an important step in strengthening sporting ties between India and New Zealand while highlighting Odisha’s growing role in developing world-class sports infrastructure and international partnerships.
The programme concluded with participants recognising the value of shared learning, cultural exchange and the ability of sport to connect communities, paving the way for continued collaboration in the years ahead.