Welcoming the trophy at the State Secretariat, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: " Odisha is the nursery of rugby in India and our players have brought laurels for both the state and the country. We are also the proud host of the Asian U-18 Women`s Rugby Sevens in October this year. I wish to encourage more kids come forward and play the sport of rugby."

Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera, State Sports Secretary Vishal Dev, World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper, Rugby India President Numazar Mehta were present on the occasion.

At KISS, thousands of students welcomed the Cup on the pitches before joining a get-into-rugby training session, delivered by Rugby India coaches and players, including Munna Murmu, Rajkishore Murmu, Sumitra Nayak, Hupi Majhi and Lija Sardar of KISS.

At Hotel Swosti Premium, hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey, Odisha cricket star Debasis Mohanty, former India woman football captain Sradhanjali Samantaray greeted the trophy along with Bhubaneswar North MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, Odisha Rugby Football Association U K Mohanty.

Rugby World Cup 2019 is the ninth edition of the tournament, which will be held for the first time in Asia. The world`s top 20 national teams will play in 48 matches hosted across 12 match cities.
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TOP: Rugby World Cup at the Sun Temple in Konark on August 10, 2018.
RIGHT: Students welcome Rugby World Cup at KISS in Bhubaneswar on August 10, 2018.