Japanese Rugby Legend ONO Hitoshi Visits India to Spearhead “Sport for Development” Initiative and Strengthen Bilateral Ties

New Delhi, 6 April 2026 : The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), has successfully concluded the India visit of Japanese rugby legend Mr. ONO Hitoshi, marking a significant step forward in leveraging sport for development while reinforcing India–Japan bilateral ties.

Mr. ONO, the most-capped player in Japan’s rugby history, led the delegation along with Mr. NISHIKI Makoto, Chairman of the Rugby Development Committee at JRFU. The visit focused on promoting rugby as a tool for youth empowerment, life skills development, and community engagement.

The delegation began its engagements in New Delhi with strategic discussions at the JICA India Office, followed by a courtesy call at the Embassy of Japan, setting the tone for deeper institutional collaboration in sports development.

In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the delegation undertook extensive field engagements at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). Interacting with hundreds of students across primary, middle school, and university levels, Mr. ONO conducted multiple coaching sessions aimed at building technical skills and instilling the core values of rugby.

The delegation also reviewed the ongoing contributions of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs), including one long-term and eight short-term volunteers deployed in collaboration with Doshisha University. Their efforts in strengthening athlete capabilities at KISS and KIIT were acknowledged as a key pillar of the initiative.

A high-level meeting with the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) further reinforced the long-standing partnership. Both sides highlighted key milestones achieved since 2016, including the deployment of 37 rugby-focused JOCVs across three Indian states and the co-hosting of an international match featuring India and Sri Lanka. The partners reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up collaboration going forward.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. ONO Hitoshi said, “Rugby is more than just a game; it is a vehicle for teaching teamwork and the spirit of ‘No Side’—where opponents become friends the moment the whistle blows, I was honored to share these values with the youth in Bhubaneswar and to see firsthand how a sport is contributing to the vibrant growth of Indian communities.”

Mr. NISHIKI Makoto, JRFU Chairman of Rugby Development Committee, added, “This visit marked a significant chapter in our partnership. By engaging with local organizations and athletes and fostering a sports culture that bridges our two nations, we believe we have contributed to the development of sports diplomacy and mutual understanding between Japan and India.”

By reinforcing the partnership between the JRFU and the IRFU and supporting the activities of JOCVs, this project successfully advanced the role of sports in international development. The insights gained from this visit will serve as a roadmap for future institutional collaboration and people-to-people exchange between the two nations.