On May 16–17, 2026, the inaugural “CASA Rugby 7s Championship” international tournament was successfully held in Tashkent at the Central Sports Complex of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The competition was organized within the framework of the Central and South Asia Rugby Alliance (“CASA”) and was officially supported by Asia Rugby and World Rugby. The endorsement from international rugby governing bodies highlighted the growing attention being given to the development of rugby across the region.
The “CASA” Alliance brings together rugby unions from Central and South Asia around shared objectives, including the development of rugby, strengthening regional cooperation, promoting knowledge exchange, and creating a sustainable competitive environment for national teams.
A total of 12 national teams participated in the tournament, including 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams.
Over the course of two days, fans witnessed fast-paced and highly competitive matches. Beyond the sporting aspect, the tournament also served as an important platform for strengthening sports diplomacy, friendship, and cooperation among Central and South Asian nations.
Qais Al Dhalai noted in his remarks that the “CASA” initiative represents an important example of effective regional cooperation in Asia and creates greater opportunities for regular international competition among member unions.
The Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Rugby Federation and one of the founders of the “CASA” Alliance, Qahramon Jalilov, emphasized that hosting the inaugural tournament in Tashkent was a great honour for Uzbekistan and reflected the growing potential of rugby in the region.
The final standings of the tournament were as follows:
Men:
1st place — Sri Lanka
2nd place — India
3rd place — Uzbekistan
4th place — Pakistan
5th place — Mongolia
6th place — Kyrgyzstan
Women:
1st place — Sri Lanka
2nd place — Kazakhstan
3rd place — Uzbekistan
4th place — India
5th place — Mongolia
6th place — Kyrgyzstan
The closing ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and officials, including:
— Qahramon Jalilov — Founder and Convenor of CASA
— Sodiq Safoyev — Chairman of the Uzbekistan Rugby Federation
— Alisher Narbayev — Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan
— Sayyora Ayupova — Chairperson of the Board of the Uzbekistan Republican Commodity Exchange
— Ridzal Saat — Regional Partnerships Manager for Asia at World Rugby
— Benjamin van Ruyen — Chief Executive Officer of Asia Rugby
The tournament was organized with the support of the following partners and organizations:
— Uzbekistan Republican Commodity Exchange
— University of World Economy and Diplomacy
— Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan
— Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan
— National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan
— Avid Sports
— Gordone
— World Rugby
— Asia Rugby
— Uzbekistan Rugby Federation
The “CASA Rugby 7s Championship” became one of the most significant events in the regional rugby calendar, contributing to the further development of rugby, strengthening international sports cooperation, and encouraging greater youth participation in sport.
