Rajgir, Bihar | 17 April 2026: Odisha were crowned champions of the 13th Senior National Rugby 7s Championship after a commanding 27-0 victory over defending champions Bihar in the final at the State Sports Complex, Rajgir.
The final marked the third successive summit clash between Odisha and Bihar, underlining their dominance in the Women’s competition. Odisha’s clinical performance was led by Nirmalya Rout, who scored 15 points through three tries, while Tarulata Naik added 10 points with two tries. Parbati Hansdah also got on the scoresheet, sealing a comprehensive win and a third national title in six years for Odisha women.
Earlier, West Bengal secured the bronze medal with a 26-0 win over Delhi in the 3rd place playoff. The scoring effort was shared across the side, with Riya Oraon (7 points), Rima Oraon (5 points), Namista Oraon (5 points), and Sandhya Rai (9 points) all contributing in a comprehensive team performance.
The knockout phase began with the Cup Pre-Quarterfinals on Day 1, where Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, Punjab, and Bihar progressed with convincing wins.
On Day 2, the Quarterfinals saw a mix of dominant performances and closely contested battles. West Bengal delivered one of the standout results of the round with a commanding 43-0 victory over Rajasthan, while Odisha continued their strong run with a 41-0 win against Maharashtra. In the closest contest of the round, Delhi came back from a 0–10 deficit to beat Kerala 12-10 in a tightly fought encounter, showcasing resilience under pressure. Bihar, backed by home support, maintained their momentum with a solid 34-0 win over Punjab to secure their place in the semi-finals.
In the Semi-finals, Odisha defeated West Bengal 31-7, while Bihar overcame Delhi 33-7, setting up yet another final between the two dominant sides. Their presence in three successive finals underlines their consistency and dominance in the Women’s competition at the national level.
The tournament also witnessed impressive attacking output from the top teams, with Odisha finishing as the highest-scoring side with 235 points, followed by West Bengal with 229 points and Bihar with 227 points. In a closely contested race for the top scorer, West Bengal’s Sandhya Rai finished on top with 57 points (five tries and 16 conversions). Odisha’s Tarulata Naik followed just behind with 56 points (10 tries and three conversions), while Bihar’s Arti Kumari rounded off the top three with 55 points from 11 tries.
The closing ceremony was held in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Shri Shrawan Kumar, MLA – Nalanda Vidhan Sabha & Chairman, Rugby Football Association of Bihar; Shri Surendra Mehta, MLA – Bachhwara & Former Sports Minister; Shri Raveendran Sankaran, IPS, Director General-cum-CEO, Bihar State Sports Authority; Shri Rahul Bose, President, Rugby India; and Mr Pankaj Kumar Jyoti, General Secretary, Rugby Football Association of Bihar.
With the conclusion of the Women’s competition, the championship will continue in Rajgir with the Men’s category scheduled to take place on 20-21 April, promising another phase of high-quality rugby action.