Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra Dominate as 10th edition of Junior Nationals Begins in Dehradun

Jul 8, 2025 | Blog

[Sassy_Social_Share]

Dehradun, July 8, 2025 –  The Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025 kicked off in Dehradun today with a thrilling day of action at the Maharana Pratap Sports College, as 27 participating states and union territories competed in the 10th edition of the prestigious national tournament. Day 1 delivered 40 high-octane matches, with a total of 1,273 points scored – reflecting the pace, skill, and intensity of U18 girls’ Rugby in India.

Bihar, Delhi, and Maharashtra were the standout performers, advancing to the quarterfinals with dominant wins while maintaining clean sheets through the group and pre-quarterfinal stages. Last year’s runners-up Odisha also booked their spot in the final eight with a commanding 45-0 win over hosts Uttarakhand.

Joining them in the quarterfinals are Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam – with UP and Assam making a strong impression this year. Uttar Pradesh stunned 2024 bronze medallists Rajasthan 19-0, while Assam delivered a clinical performance to knock out Group Stage rank #7 side Chhattisgarh.

Among the day’s top scoring encounters, Maharashtra twice crossed the 60-point mark – winning 62-0 over Andhra Pradesh and 61-0 against Madhya Pradesh. Reigning champions Bihar registered the highest score of the day with a 64-0 win over Jammu & Kashmir.

In terms of individual performances, Lakshmi (Delhi) led the scoring charts with 42 points, followed by Naja Fathima P (Kerala) with 41, and Sandhya (Delhi) with 35.

The tournament continues on July 9 with the final knockout rounds and placing matches in the U18 Girls’ category.

The quarter-final line-up is as follows:
West Bengal vs Maharashtra
Kerala vs Odisha
Uttar Pradesh vs Delhi
Assam vs Bihar

Today’s results:
Group Stage
Knockout Stage

LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS

Bihar edge Odisha to Defend Junior National Rugby 7s Girls U-18 Title in Dehradun

Bihar retained their crown at the Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025 with a 14-5 win over Odisha in the U-18 girls’ final held in Dehradun. The reigning champions remained unbeaten and conceded just one try all tournament, marking their third title in four years. Maharashtra secured third place after a thrilling 17-12 comeback win over Uttar Pradesh, while Karnataka’s Aliyajasmin emerged as the tournament’s top scorer.

Future of Indian Rugby Heads to Dehradun for Junior Nationals 2025

The Indian Rugby Football Union, in collaboration with the Government of Uttarakhand and the Uttarakhand Rugby Association, has announced the 10th edition of the Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025. Scheduled to take place at the Ganga Athletics Stadium in Dehradun, the tournament will feature over 600 players from 27 states competing in the U18 Boys and Girls categories. The event is set to spotlight the country’s most promising young talent in the dynamic Sevens format and marks a major step in Rugby India’s grassroots development pathway.