1. How did Rio Beach Rugby come about?
Rio Beach Rugby was born in 2006 in an unpretentious way: an Italian team visited Rio in the summer. To welcome them, Rio Rugby invited local clubs for a small tournament. The response was so incredible that we never stopped!
Since then, every January we have organized the event, which continues to grow, quickly including the women’s category and attracting teams from all over South America and the world. What started as hospitality has become the biggest beach rugby event in the Americas!
2. Tell us a little about the event, the location, and the atmosphere experienced during it.
Imagine playing rugby with Cristo Redentor watching over you and a cold caipirinha waiting for you on the sand. Rio Beach Rugby takes place in the heart of the Rio summer, on Copacabana Beach – Brazil’s most iconic postcard. Under a strong sun and blue sky, the tournament officially marks the beginning of the Brazilian rugby season, but it’s much more than that: it’s a celebration of our culture, our sport, and the joy of Rio. The atmosphere is unique – competitive during the games, but between matches you have music, golden sand between your toes, and that pre-Carnival energy that only Rio provides. Players, former players, families, and curious onlookers mingle in a relaxed atmosphere of camaraderie.
It’s quality rugby with a Brazilian soul – serious competition without losing the lightheartedness of life. For European teams escaping the harsh January winter, it’s the perfect combination: start the second part of your season under 35°C of pure rugby!
3. In 2026 you will celebrate the 20th edition of the event, something quite significant. What does reaching 20 years of the event represent for the organization?
Completing 20 years since that first unassuming encounter with the Italian squadra is a source of great pride. Rio Beach Rugby has evolved from a local event into a consolidated tournament on the national and South American calendars, with high-level games, international clubs, and an unparalleled party on the sands of the world’s most famous beach!
2026 is not just a celebration of the past, it’s a celebration of our future: we want to transform this event into a movement capable of attracting more interest to rugby in Brazil and beach rugby globally. We want to show the true spirit of rugby: the celebration of fun and friendships on and off the field.
Our first 20 years were incredible. The next 20 will be legendary!
4. Are there any new features planned for this edition?
2026 will be our most epic edition. We are preparing many surprises to celebrate 20 years in style! We’ve partnered with one of the world’s biggest rugby brands (to be revealed soon) and are doubling down on music, entertainment, and unique experiences for athletes, staff, and the public. We’ll be harnessing the Carnival spirit that will be taking over the city – the street parties will already be in full swing when the tournament takes place!
Follow @riobeachrugby for weekly announcements until January!
5. How many teams are expected to participate? Are they all Brazilian or are there also international teams?
We expect 24 teams (men’s and women’s), with capacity for 32 teams. Mostly Brazilian, but we’ve already confirmed Germany and are finalizing deals with South American teams.
But we want to see more European teams on our sands! Our special call to European teams: while you face low temperatures and gray weather in January, here it’s summer, beach, and party – the perfect time to escape winter and start the second half of the season with vitamin D!
Special packages for international teams – accommodation, transfers, city activities, and even a Carnival experience: riorugbybrasil@gmail.com
6. During these 20 years, what are the main challenges the event has faced?
As an event in one of the world’s most iconic locations, during peak season, we have faced logistical challenges in the past. Today we have a solid institutional partnership with the Rio de Janeiro administration, guaranteeing the continuity and growth of the event.
We also maintain strict standards of conduct – Rio Beach Rugby celebrates the values of rugby above all else, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment.
7. What is the current state of Beach Rugby in Brazil? Do you have other relevant tournaments? Is there any synergy between the organizations?
Brazilian beach rugby has enormous potential – we are leading this movement.
We have extensive coastlines and clubs that train on the sands from north to south, but many have not yet experienced the full experience of a Beach Rugby event. We want to change that and bring teams from all regions to face international teams and celebrate while we sunbathe and drink caipirinhas! Other to Beach rugby is growing across Brazil – the more beach rugby, the better! Our main contact is with Beach Rugby Ilhabela, played on a paradisiacal island on the north coast of São Paulo, which will be 18 years old in 2026.
8. Has the Rio Beach Rugby organization been following the evolution of Figueira Beach Rugby? What is your vision for the event from Brazil?
Figueira Beach Rugby is our star in the north – and we are building its South American version, with tropical energy.
Figueira has mastered the perfect balance: a competitive and organized tournament without losing focus on fun and a unique experience. We are inspired by this for Rio Beach Rugby 2026.
We have begun implementing lessons learned from you in the organization of Rio Beach Rugby 2026 to achieve this same level of competitive excellence and experience. Our ambition is clear: to offer the quality and organization that you provide, adding a unique Brazilian flavor: 35°C heat, pre-Carnival energy, and Carioca hospitality.
Just imagine: playing Figueira in June, Rio Beach Rugby in January – a full beach rugby calendar for teams that take the sport seriously! Let’s build this bridge between our continents and strengthen the global beach rugby community.
9. Can we dream of your visit soon?
It’s past time to make this dream a reality and witness #BeachRugbyMadness in person! We have to make this visit happen as soon as possible – will 2026 be the year?
10. How would you like to see Rio Beach Rugby in the future?
Our vision is to transform Rio Beach Rugby into the hub that connects the South American beach rugby scene with the global scene. We want to transform this event into a global movement. A movement to spread rugby culture throughout Brazil and the world.
Our goal by 2031:
64+ times
20,000 live spectators throughout the weekend
Established reference on the global beach rugby calendar
Establishing partnerships with major world tournaments (including Figueira!)
We work hard to make Rio Beach Rugby the natural choice for clubs in the Southern Hemisphere to enjoy the summer playing quality rugby and having fun like never before, and for teams in the Northern Hemisphere to escape the winter and start the second half of the season with vitamin D and the best cultural experience Brazil has to offer.
We have all the ingredients: the most famous beach in the world (Copacabana), the most famous party in the world (Carnival), Brazilian hospitality, and a dedicated team that works all year round to deliver this unique experience.
11. A message to the global community of Beach Rugby enthusiasts.
Only those who have played beach rugby understand – and you deserve to experience it in Rio.
All of us who have played in a beach rugby tournament know that special feeling: intense days running on the sand under a strong sun and a tired body, but leaving the tournament with a renewed passion for our sport, our culture, and our community. It’s something that can’t be explained – it’s lived.
Over the course of competitive seasons, we forget that what makes rugby unique isn’t scrums, rucks, line-outs, or perfect kicks. It’s the incredible people in our community, the values we share, and the magical moments with our best friends. The memories we carry from a rugby career aren’t the brilliant plays, but the fun times with clubmates, the fantastic (and exaggerated!) stories of adventures on our tours, and the moments in the after-game where we are our lightest and most authentic selves, without fear of judgment.
We’re going crazy organizing a beach rugby tournament for you – for our global community of beach rugby enthusiasts! So, my three final messages:
1. Participate in MORE beach rugby tournaments! Play rugby like always, have fun like never before!
2. Come to Rio Beach Rugby at least once in your life! Celebrate in one of the most vibrant places in the world, make lifelong friends on this side of the Atlantic, and understand why Rio is the Marvelous City!
3. 2026 is THE year! 20 years, special energy, Carnival in the streets, unprecedented partnerships – don’t leave for next year what you can already do in 2026!
Registration open | Limited spots!!! For more information:
Contact: riorugbybrasil@gmail.com | +55 21 96457-6591 | instagram.com/riobeachrugby
Special Packages for International Teams: accommodation, transfers, tournament entry and other attractions in Rio.
