Haryana rugby sevens team members. Photo: BSSA
By A Correspondent
Patna: Haryana were crowned champions in the men’s category of the 13th Senior National Rugby Sevens Championship after edging past Maharashtra 17–12 in a closely fought final at the Rajgir Sports Academy.
The summit clash lived up to expectations, with both sides delivering an intense and high-quality contest. Haryana rose to the occasion at crucial moments, reclaiming the national title after finishing as runners-up last year.
Earlier, West Bengal secured the bronze medal with a composed 26–5 victory over Rajasthan in the third-place play-off, once again earning a spot on the podium.
The knockout stage began on the opening day with pre-quarter-finals, where teams battled under pressure to seal their places in the last eight. The quarter-finals witnessed impressive performances and tight contests, with Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana and Rajasthan advancing to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Maharashtra ended West Bengal’s title defence with a commanding 36–5 win, while Haryana thrashed Rajasthan 38–0, setting up a repeat of the 2021 final between the two most consistent teams of the tournament.
The final remained evenly poised throughout. Haryana took an early lead through Neeraj Khatri, before Maharashtra responded via Sunil Chavan. Mohit Khatri soon restored Haryana’s advantage, and a crucial try from Ajay Deswal, followed by a conversion from Deepak Kumar Punia, extended their lead heading into the closing stages.
Maharashtra fought back with a try from Prashant Singh and a conversion by Shridhar Nigade to narrow the gap. However, despite late pressure, Haryana held their nerve in the dying moments to seal a 17–12 victory and reclaim the national crown.
Rugby India President Rahul Bose said the championship reflected the rapid growth of the sport in the country. “Players are faster, stronger and fitter. Their running skills have improved, defences are more technical and fearless, and nearly every team now understands the importance of structured play. Congratulations to Haryana for winning the men’s title and to Odisha for their impressive victory in the women’s competition,” he said.
Individually, Rajasthan’s Rajan Rawat emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive 76 points (eight tries and 18 conversions). Maharashtra’s Shridhar Nigade finished second with 59 points, while West Bengal’s Karan Rajbhar secured third place with 55 points, underlining the attacking quality on display throughout the competition.
The closing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Shravan Kumar, JD(U) Legislature Party leader, MLA from Nalanda and Chairman of the Bihar Rugby Football Association; Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India; Surya Prakash Gupta, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Rajgir; Sunil Kumar Singh, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Rajgir; and Pankaj Kumar Jyoti, General Secretary of the Bihar Rugby Football Association.
With the conclusion of the men’s competition, the 13th edition of the Senior National Rugby Sevens Championship came to a successful close, marking another significant chapter in the growth of rugby in India.
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