India U-20 Women Beat New Zealand 17-0 in Historic Rugby Sevens Clash in Rajgir

India’s U-20 women’s rugby team recorded a landmark 17-0 victory over New Zealand in Rajgir, Bihar, delivering a memorable result during celebrations marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations.

Indian rugby witnessed a historic moment in Rajgir as the country’s U-20 women’s team defeated New Zealand 17-0 in an Under-20 Rugby Invitational Sevens Tournament at the Rajgir Sports Complex. The victory offered a significant boost to Indian rugby and highlighted the potential of the country’s young women players against international opposition.

The tournament, featuring men’s and women’s U-20 teams from India and New Zealand, was organised to commemorate a century of sporting relations between the two countries. The occasion brought together players, officials and dignitaries, with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurating the event.

While the women’s team celebrated an impressive victory, the men’s encounter provided a contrasting outcome, with New Zealand defeating India 32-0. Together, the matches offered an important competitive experience for India’s emerging rugby players.

India’s 17-0 victory over New Zealand was the standout result of the tournament’s opening fixtures. The Indian women delivered a performance that resulted in a clean sheet against a country with an established international rugby reputation.

The scoreline reflected India's ability to turn the occasion into a competitive achievement rather than merely a ceremonial fixture. Defeating New Zealand at the Under-20 level provided a significant moment for a programme seeking to develop young players and improve its standing in international rugby.

The victory was particularly notable given the wider context of the series. New Zealand has a strong rugby tradition, and competing against its youth teams offers Indian players an opportunity to test themselves against a different level of opposition.

For the Indian women, the result provided more than a memorable scoreline. It offered encouragement for the development of women's rugby in the country and demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for young athletes to compete against international teams.

The 17-0 scoreline also ensured that the Indian side finished the contest without conceding a point, making the performance an especially memorable one for the team and Indian rugby supporters.

New Zealand Men Show Their Strength

The men’s fixture proved considerably more difficult for India, with New Zealand recording a 32-0 victory over the Indian U-20 side.

New Zealand’s performance underlined the challenge facing Indian men’s rugby as it seeks to narrow the gap against established international programmes. The visitors scored six tries and prevented India from crossing the try line, controlling the contest and limiting the home side’s attacking opportunities.

India was unable to register points, while New Zealand demonstrated its ability to convert attacking opportunities into tries. The result provided a clear indication of the standards required to compete against teams with deeper rugby traditions and experience.

Despite the defeat, the match offered valuable exposure for the Indian players. Facing New Zealand in an international invitational tournament gave the team an opportunity to experience the pace and intensity of a stronger opponent.

For the Indian men, the priority will be to learn from the contest, improve their execution and use the experience to prepare for future international fixtures.

The Under-20 Rugby Invitational Sevens Tournament was held at the Athletic Stadium of the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar to mark 100 years of sporting relations between India and New Zealand. The event featured men’s and women’s teams from both countries, bringing international rugby to Rajgir and providing a platform for young athletes to compete in front of local spectators.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the tournament, with other dignitaries also present to encourage the players. Indian Rugby Football Union president and actor Rahul Bose felicitated the chief guests during the occasion.

A notable moment before the men’s match came when the New Zealand Māori men’s team performed the traditional haka. The powerful ceremonial performance added to the atmosphere and reflected an important cultural dimension of New Zealand rugby.

The tournament combined sporting competition with the celebration of a century of ties between the two nations. For the participating players, it also offered an opportunity to represent their countries at an event carrying significance beyond the results on the field.

The contrasting results in Rajgir illustrated both the promise and the challenges facing Indian rugby. The women’s 17-0 victory provided a major boost, while the men’s 32-0 defeat highlighted the areas where further development and international exposure are needed.

For the women’s team, beating New Zealand will stand out as a landmark achievement and a source of confidence. For the men, the contest offered lessons against a highly competitive opponent.

The tournament’s wider significance lies in creating opportunities for young players to gain international experience while strengthening sporting connections between India and New Zealand.

India’s women have given the occasion a memorable sporting highlight. As the invitational series continues, both teams will have opportunities to build on the experience, with the ultimate objective of developing stronger performances on the international stage.