The England National Kabaddi Team was established in 2004 and represents England in international / Rectangle standard style Kabaddi competitions. The main national governing body for Kabaddi (Rectangle) in England is the England Kabaddi Union (EKU) - affiliated to the ProKabaddi League, International Kabaddi Federation and EuroKabaddi. The England Kabaddi Union is the only Kabaddi body in England affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation.
Another organisation involved with Kabaddi in England, with limited activity and presence is the England Kabaddi Association affiliated with World Kabaddi.
The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) is the most prominent, well organised and recognised national governing body for Kabaddi in England affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation. The England Kabaddi Union's (EKU's) original Rules have also been endorsed by the England Kabaddi Federation UK for Rectangle style Kabaddi as the "official rules governing Rectangle Kabaddi in the UK". EKU's Kabaddi (Rectangle) have also served as the basis for the adoption of the most comprehensive set of Kabaddi (Rectangle) rules by EuroKabaddi and all affiliated European countries.
In 2021, the England Kabaddi Union was instrumental in working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport England Kabaddi (DCMS) of the UK Government to bring back Kabaddi post-COVID with the government approved Return-To-Play guidance.
The England Kabaddi Union is affiliated with Kabaddi clubs at universities across England including Imperial College London, King's College London, London School of Economics, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and Warwick University - which provide the grassroots system and player pool for the England National Kabaddi Team. The England Kabaddi Union's Referee Certification Programme is recognised across England - with three tiers of Referees. The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) also runs a national coaching certification programme for Kabaddi coaches.
EKU's players Felix Li and Yuvraj Pandeya were also part of the Pro Kabaddi League in 2023 and 2024 - playing for Dabang Delhi - purchased for INR 13,00,000 each.
The England Kabaddi Union has also partnered with World Kabaddi for running collaborative training sessions across England and Scotland with Kabaddi Scotland. In the inaugural 2004 Kabaddi World Cup, the team reached the quarter-finals where they lost to Canada. In 2022 and 2023, the England team participated in the Bangabandhu Cup held in Bangladesh. The England Kabaddi Union will lead the England Kabaddi Team's participation in both EuroKabaddi tournaments planned in 2026. England were silver medallists at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup hosted in England, losing to India in the final.
Source: