Bihar emerged champions at the 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, defeating defending champions Maharashtra in a repeat of last year’s final, while host state Odisha claimed the bronze medal after a strong finish at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The two-day tournament concluded on Saturday, showcasing India’s best Under-15 girls’ rugby talent in a high-quality knockout phase. The championship featured 24 teams from across the country and delivered an intense final day, with teams competing for rankings, medals, and pride. The overall standard of play reflected the steady growth of girls’ rugby at the grassroots level in India.
Bihar continued their dominant run in the quarterfinals with a comprehensive 43–7 victory over Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, built on speed, structured play, and clinical finishing. Odisha, backed by a vocal home crowd, were equally ruthless, overpowering Karnataka 55–0 in their quarterfinal encounter.
Elsewhere, Rajasthan ended Chandigarh’s spirited run with a 17–7 win, while Maharashtra displayed their experience and composure to defeat West Bengal 24–5. The results set up a compelling semifinal lineup featuring Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
In the semifinals, Bihar were once again in complete control. They delivered a polished and disciplined performance against Rajasthan, shutting out their opponents 35–0 to book a place in the final. The second semifinal proved to be the most dramatic match of the day, with Maharashtra edging past host Odisha 17–14 in a closely contested encounter. Odisha pushed the defending champions to the limit, but Maharashtra’s late composure proved decisive.
Odisha responded emphatically in the bronze medal playoff. Showing depth and resilience, the hosts dominated Rajasthan 47–5 to finish third, much to the delight of the home supporters. Their performance highlighted the strength of their development pathway and the ability to rebound quickly after a narrow semifinal defeat.
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The final was a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s title clash. This time, Bihar ensured there would be no repeat of the previous outcome. From the opening exchanges, Bihar dictated terms with superior ball movement, physicality, and tactical discipline. Maharashtra struggled to match Bihar’s tempo as the challengers steadily pulled away, eventually sealing a convincing 34–7 victory.
The win marked Bihar’s fifth title in the last six editions of the Girls’ U15 category, underlining their sustained excellence at the sub-junior level. Over the course of the tournament, the 24 teams combined to score approximately 1,800 points, with 112 individual players getting on the scoresheet, reflecting the expanding talent pool and attacking confidence across teams.
Another encouraging aspect of the championship was the breakthrough performances by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as well as Chandigarh, both of whom finished in the top eight for the first time. DNHDD secured fifth place with a 14–5 win over Karnataka, while Chandigarh finished eighth, marking important progress in their development.
Individually, Odisha’s Sumi Gagarai finished as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive 104 points. Bihar’s Komal Kumari and Roshani Kumari also made significant contributions, scoring 66 and 56 points respectively.
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With the Girls’ U15 tournament concluded, attention now shifts to the Boys’ U15 Championship, scheduled for January 20 and 21, 2026, which promises another competitive chapter in India’s growing youth rugby calendar.
