Hyderabad - Odisha were crowned champions of the 11th Junior National
Rugby 7s Championship (Girls) after a hard-fought 15-10 victory over Maharashtra in an
enthralling final at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad.
The final lived up to expectations as Odisha struck first to take a 10-0 lead through tries
from Manisha Majhi and Ranjulata Naik. Maharashtra responded brilliantly in the
second half, scoring two quick tries to level the contest at 10-10. With the title hanging
in the balance, Odisha produced the decisive moment of the match, converting scrum
possession into the winning try to secure a memorable 15-10 victory and reclaim the
Junior Girls' title. It marked Odisha's first Junior Girls' title since 2023, when they also
defeated Maharashtra in the final.
The victory marks Odisha's second national title of the season, following their triumph
at the Senior National Rugby 7s Championship 2026, underlining the state's continued
strength and depth in women's rugby.
In the semi-finals, Maharashtra produced a dominant 24-0 win over West Bengal, while
Odisha edged defending champions Bihar 10-5 in a closely contested encounter. Bihar
responded by defeating West Bengal 36-5 to secure third place.
The championship highlighted the growing standard of age-group rugby in India, with
1,853 points scored across the tournament. Bihar (215 points) finished as the
tournament's highest-scoring team, followed closely by Maharashtra (212) and Odisha
(201). Defensively, Bihar and Odisha were equally impressive, conceding just 15 points
each throughout the championship.
Ranjulata Naik starred for Odisha throughout the tournament, finishing as the team's
leading scorer with 60 points (10 tries, 5 conversions). The overall top scorer was
Bhudiya Namrata Dinesh of Gujarat, who accumulated 70 points (14 tries).
The Junior National Rugby 7s Championship continues to serve as a vital platform in
Rugby India's player development pathway, bringing together the country's best young
talent while helping identify the next generation of national team players.
Attention now shifts to the Boys' Championship, which will take place at the GMC
Balayogi Athletic Stadium on 10-11 July 2026
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