Goa 7s 2025 to Kick Off on November 15–16 at Bambolim
PANAJI: Goa is all set to host Goa 7s 2025 – Season 2, which will be played on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.
The two-day event will bring together top rugby teams from across India, promising an action-packed weekend of sport and camaraderie. Organised in partnership with the Crocotyles Rugby Foundation (CRF), the tournament aims to further boost rugby’s growing presence in Goa while contributing to the state’s sports tourism goals.
A total of 24 teams comprising over 350 players will be participating in the competition, with an expected crowd turnout of more than 300. The categories include Men’s 7s, Women’s 7s, and Adult Mixed Touch Rugby. The teams will compete in the Cup, Plate, and Bowl format.
Addressing a press conference in the city on Friday, Brandan Crasto, Founder, Goa 7s & President, Crocotryles Rugby Foundation, said that this year’s season will feature 10 teams in men’s, 10 mixed teams and 4 teams in the women’s category.
“We will be having teams from India, J&K, Tamil Nadu as well as from the east and west of the country as well as international teams from Australia, Nepal, South Africa, USA and the Philippines,” Crasto said.
Elaborating on the idea behind the Goa 7s international tournament, Crasto said, “I love watching the HSBC 7s series that happens worldwide in different leagues. It is one of the biggest tournaments in the world, especially the Hong Kong 7s where I really want to go next year. This is a big shout out to World Rugby, Asia Rugby and India Rugby as well. Please come down and be a part of us and see what we are doing here,” Crasto highlighted.
Expressing confidence over the tournament’s success, Crasto said, “It is really impressive what we have been able to pull off in a short amount of time. We had 12 teams last year and this year we have 24. We have opened the floodgates to the international players and teams now. It is just going to keep growing. With the support of Asia Rugby, India Rugby, and the World Rugby Series, I think we can make this one fantastic tournament.”
Also present at the press briefing were Ryan Gaulstan – Head Manager, Rugby India, Kartik Menda, Tournament Director, Samaka Issacs, Australia Semi-Pro Rugby Player, Michael Blatteis – Philippines 7s International Player (hailing from Cali, USA) and Ganesh Baniya – Nepal Rugby 7s International Player.
Gaulstan anticipates that Goa 7s will help promote the sport in the state.
“With Brandan’s vision and support, Goa 7s will grow bigger and will definitely help develop some really good players. With the foreign coaches and players training with us, I think the standard of the game and players coming out of the Goa 7s would be something to reckon with in the future. Goa will be one of the top states of Rugby 7s in the years to come,” he said.
Speaking about the organisational aspect of the tournament, Menda said, “Work began a few months ago. We have doubled the number of teams this year, so the challenges have also doubled. It is a community-driven initiative. We have seen the efforts everybody has put in. The departments of Tourism and Art and Culture have come on board and have really helped us”
The tournament will be live-streamed, attracting 5,000+ global viewers, and will also be amplified through digital and media publicity. There will be a Winner’s Trophy and customised Goa 7s medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, while the 5th-place team will receive a plate-shaped trophy and the 7th-place team a bowl-shaped trophy.
The defending champions are Delhi Hurricanes RC in all three categories. This season will also see participation from two teams from Colombo, Sri Lanka, along with players from the USA, UK, France, South Africa, Nepal, the Philippines, and Australia, including top Team India players from some of the best clubs across the country.
The Government of Goa, through its Department of Tourism, continues to promote high-energy sporting events that position the state as a vibrant destination beyond its beaches and nightlife. By supporting such tournaments, the state seeks to create opportunities for young athletes, encourage community participation, and strengthen Goa’s image as a premier hub for sports and adventure tourism.
With its fast-paced format and strong competitive spirit, Goa 7s has rapidly gained popularity, offering both players and spectators an exciting sporting spectacle that blends athletic excellence with festive Goan energy.
CRF was founded to boost the development and culture of rugby in Goa. CRF Founder and President Brandan Crasto, who spearheads the sport’s growth in the state, has been a pioneer in monetizing rugby and creating Goa’s first and biggest international rugby platform — Goa 7s, in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Department, since the inception of Goa Rugby in 2014.
This platform has opened multiple avenues to boost Goa’s economy and revenue through sports tourism, attracting international players from across the globe. Many of these players also experience Goa through CRF’s year-round grassroots development programmes, which reach out to 10,000+ students annually.
The vision is to make Goa the sports and tourism hub of India and Asia by 2030.
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