On 6 August 2026, an official meeting between the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan and the delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
The meeting was organized following the Uzbek-Kazakh Business Forum held in Tashkent on 4–5 August at the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The forum was attended by Kanat Sharlapayev, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken”, who also serves as the President of the Rugby Federation of Kazakhstan. Upon completion of the business programme, a separate meeting between the heads of the Rugby Federations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan took place, focusing on the development of bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnership relations in the field of rugby.
The meeting was attended by Sadik Safaev, Chairman of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy; Kakhramon Djalilov, Secretary General of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan; Kanat Sharlapayev, President of the Rugby Federation of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken”; as well as Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the NCE RK “Atameken”.
During the negotiations, the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation between the national rugby federations, including the development of youth and student rugby, exchange of experience in athlete and specialist training, organization of joint training camps and international competitions, as well as the implementation of initiatives aimed at further promoting rugby in Central Asian countries.
Particular attention was paid to expanding regional cooperation and consolidating the efforts of national federations to enhance the competitiveness of Central Asian rugby on the international stage.
Following the meeting, the participants reaffirmed their mutual interest in strengthening partnership and expressed confidence that closer cooperation between the Rugby Federations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan would become an important step towards the further development and promotion of rugby in the region.
