The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRUF), better known as Rugby India, the governing body for the sport of rugby in India in association with Societe Generale, one the largest European financial services group and Rugby Football Association of Bihar will host Societe Generale Senior National Rugby Sevens Championship 2017 at Patliputra Sports stadium from August 11 to 13.

In addition to Senior National Rugby championship, the Indian Wheelchair Rugby Federation of India will host the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby Nationals to be held at same venue from August 12 to 13.

Rugby teams from different states will take part in the tournament. Twenty-one male teams, 16 female teams and eight wheelchair teams, representing physically challenged players, will play more than 105 matches in three days.

The Rugby India held a press conference in this connection on Thursday, giving details about the tournament. Nasser Hussain, the general manager of Rugby India, said: "This is the third time that Senior Nationals Tournament is being held in Patna. We are excited that we will get good response from crowds."

Hussain added that it was for the first time that the states' wheelchair rugby teams will take part in the Wheelchair Rugby Nationals and also the first time that the tournament will be hosted in Patna.

Nikhil Kumar Gupta, the secretary of Wheelchair Rugby Federation of India, said: "We are excited to take part in the inaugural wheelchair Rugby Nationals. It is very encouraging to see the participation in India's first-ever wheelchair rugby event. We are thankful to Rugby India and Societe Generale for extending all their support in organising this event. This initiative will give wheelchair rugby players an exposure and much deserved opportunity at the national level."

Rugby is a game similar to football developed at Rugby School in Rugby. The game is played with two teams, each consisting of 15 players, while seven players are on the field, five are reserve players. Each team can carry, pass or kick the ball to the end zone to score as many as points as possible. The team scoring the highest points is winner. The game is of 15 minutes' duration.

The teams taking part in the tournament have been divided into various pools. In the senior national male tournament, there are seven pools comprising three teams in each pool. In the women's category, there are four pools comprising four teams each.

The first league match in the male category will be played between Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while the second match of league match will be played between Bihar and Telangana.

In the women's category, Bihar will play on the first day of the tournament. The members stated that rugby is being popularised in India after getting included in the School Games Federation of India for all age groups and the National University Games for both men and women. The sport is also a part of Services Sports Control Board. In Bihar, the associations have been organising tournaments at various schools and tournaments at Barh and other places.