KATHMANDU: Nepal Rugby Association has received full membership of the World Rugby Council. World Rugby Council has granted full membership to Nepal, according to General Secretary of Nepal Rugby Union Gobinda Ghimire.

Nepal had received associate membership of Asia Rugby in 2014 and got full membership in 2018.

Along with Nepal, Qatar and Turkey have also been recognized as full members at the Annual Meeting of World Rugby Council held virtually on May 11.

The Council now comprises 114 full members and 18 associate members.

Meanwhile, the Mai municipality of Ilam is to host the National U-20 Rugby Tournament on coming June 9 and 10.

The competition will be conducted at the sports ground in ward no. 4 of the Municipality.

Namin Dhakal, a member of the Central Publicity Department of Nepal Rugby Union, said that 11 teams each in the men’s and women’s category will participate in the U-20 national rugby tournament.

Seven teams from the seven provinces and four other clubs will participate in the tournament.