Bhubaneswar: Bihar were crowned champions of the Boys’ Under-15 category at the 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship after defeating Odisha in the final at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday.
The reigning champions overcame hosts Odisha, winning 25-5. Last year’s runners-up Rajasthan finished the tournament on the podium with a dominant 38-7 victory over Maharashtra, bringing the two-day championship to a competitive close.
The decisive day began with the quarterfinals, where the top contenders stamped their authority. Rajasthan powered past Uttarakhand with a commanding 41-0 win, while hosts Odisha overcame Delhi 17-5 to keep their title hopes alive. Maharashtra edged West Bengal 17-5 in a controlled performance, and defending champions Bihar delivered a clinical display to defeat Uttar Pradesh 46-7.
The semifinal encounters delivered contrasting narratives. Odisha produced one of the standout moments of the tournament, rallying from a 5-0 halftime deficit to defeat Rajasthan 12-5, sealing victory with a dramatic last-gasp score that sent the home crowd into celebration. In the other semifinal, Bihar showcased their composure and knockout pedigree, overcoming Maharashtra 15-7 to book their place in the final.
Rajasthan bounced back emphatically in the third-place playoff, defeating Maharashtra 38-7. The runners-up from last year closed their campaign on a high note, combining speed and physicality to secure the bronze medal.
The final saw Bihar and Odisha face off under lights at the Kalinga Stadium, with Bihar proving decisive in the title clash. The defending champions held their nerve and executed their game plan to emerge victorious by a scoreline of 38-7, clinching the Boys’ U15 title once again and reaffirming their status as one of the most consistent age-group rugby programmes in the country.
Maharashtra’s Atharv Vilas Indulkar topped the scoring charts with 91 points, that featured 15 tries and 8 conversions while Rajasthan duo Priyanshu Mishra & Anuj Kumar finished second and third with 79 and 71 points respectively.
The 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship was successfully hosted by the Government of Odisha in association with Rugby India and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
