THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 20, 2026
Defending champions Bihar, last year’s
runners-up Rajasthan, bronze medallists Maharashtra and hosts Odisha stamped
their authority on the opening day of the Boys’ Under-15 competition at the
10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, delivering a series of
commanding performances at the Kalinga Stadium to secure quarterfinal berths in
emphatic fashion.
The opening day unfolded as a
high-octane spectacle, with more than 1,200 points scored across a packed
schedule of group-stage encounters and Cup Pre-Quarterfinals. From the first
whistle, the leading contenders made their intent clear, combining speed,
structure and clinical finishing to establish early dominance in the race for
national honours. Bihar were ruthless and precise, Rajasthan dazzled with their
attacking flair, Maharashtra blended discipline with explosive pace, while
Odisha fed off home support to thrill the crowd with authoritative wins.
The championship was formally declared
open earlier in the day during a brief ceremonial function attended by senior
dignitaries from the Government of Odisha and Indian sport. A ceremonial
balloon release by team captains marked the official commencement of the competition,
setting the tone for an action-packed day of youth rugby.
In the group stage, Bihar reinforced
their reputation as defending champions with crushing victories over Chandigarh
and Assam, producing some of the largest margins of the tournament so far.
Rajasthan were equally dominant in Pool B, recording identical high-scoring
wins against Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra asserted
control in their pool with convincing performances against Haryana and
Karnataka, while Odisha made the most of familiar conditions, notching emphatic
wins over Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to top their group.
The Cup Pre-Quarterfinals saw no
let-up in intensity. Bihar brushed aside Karnataka with ease, Rajasthan
overcame Andhra Pradesh to maintain momentum, and Maharashtra shut out Assam to
book their place in the last eight. Odisha brought the curtain down on Day One
with a commanding victory over Jharkhand, igniting loud cheers from the home
supporters at the Kalinga Stadium.
As the dust settled, the quarterfinal
lineup reflected the depth and consistency of India’s strongest age-group rugby
programmes. The Boys’ U15 Quarterfinals, scheduled for January 21 at the
Kalinga Stadium, will see Uttarakhand face Rajasthan, Delhi take on Odisha,
West Bengal clash with Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh meet Bihar.
With the knockout stage now underway,
the championship enters a decisive phase, promising intense battles as India’s
most promising young rugby talents continue their quest for national glory. The
tournament is being organised by Rugby India in collaboration with the
Government of Odisha, the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government
of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
