Bihar Wins U18 Boys’ Title at Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025

Bihar’s rugby team clinched the U18 Boys’ title at the 10th Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025, held in Dehradun, with a narrow 17–15 victory over defending champions Odisha. This win not only underlines Bihar’s rising dominance in junior rugby but also completes a historic double, with the U18 Girls’ title already in the state’s grasp earlier in the week.

Background

The Junior National Rugby 7s Championship is India’s premier youth rugby tournament and a critical stage for identifying future national-level talent. The 2025 edition was hosted at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun, and featured top-performing state teams that also competed this year at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025.

Significance

Bihar’s double victory in both boys’ and girls’ U18 categories mirrors their golden sweep at the 2022 edition, signifying the state’s consistent leadership in junior rugby. The triumph in a tightly contested final against Odisha, one of the strongest rugby states, highlights Bihar’s superior training, athletic discipline, and strategic play.

Match Highlights

• Goldan Kumar opened the scoring for Bihar with a try and conversion.
• Odisha responded with tries from Mantu Tudu, Subash Hansdah, and Eswar Pujari.
• A key try from Sunny Kumar brought Bihar back in the contest.
• Goldan Kumar secured the win with a last-minute try, making the final 17–15.

Tournament Features

• Bihar remained unbeaten, overcoming teams like Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra secured third place with a golden try against Delhi by Saurabh Sanjay Rajput.
• Delhi’s fourth-place finish marked a significant rise from their 7th-place position in 2024.

Impact and Recognition

Indian Rugby President Rahul Bose praised the competitiveness of the tournament and recognized it as a foundation for nurturing talent for future senior national teams. The consistency between this event’s results and the KIYG 2025 rankings underscores the development trajectory of rugby in India, especially among youth in Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, and