India’s Under-20 women’s rugby sevens team delivered a memorable performance on home soil, defeating New Zealand’s Māori youth side Hine Toa 17–0 at the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar on October 27.
The victory was a major moment for Indian women’s rugby, with the hosts combining attacking precision and disciplined defence to keep their opponents from scoring throughout the match. India led 12–0 at half-time before adding another five points in the second half to seal the win.
The match was part of the India–New Zealand Under-20 Rugby Sevens Series, organised to mark 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.
India made an immediate impact, putting pressure on New Zealand’s defence and building an early lead through quick passing and coordinated attacks. The team carried that momentum into the second half, refusing to allow Hine Toa back into the contest.
The Indian players also maintained a strong defensive line, limiting the visitors’ opportunities to advance and get on the scoreboard. Their ability to combine speed, teamwork and defensive organisation proved decisive in securing the shutout victory.
The result stood out because New Zealand has a well-established rugby culture and development system. However, the visitors were a Māori Under-20 youth side, rather than New Zealand’s senior national team, making the result a significant achievement at youth level.
The win offered a boost to the development of women’s rugby in India, a sport that receives less mainstream attention than cricket and several other established disciplines.
International exposure at the Under-20 level gives young players opportunities to test their skills against overseas opposition, gain competitive experience and build confidence. India’s performance in Rajgir demonstrated the potential of its emerging women rugby players.
The result also highlighted the importance of investing in grassroots development, coaching and opportunities for young women to compete internationally.
The series ran from October 23 to 28 in Rajgir, Nalanda district, bringing together India’s Under-20 men’s and women’s teams and visiting Māori youth teams from New Zealand.
The programme included competitive rugby sevens matches, joint training sessions, cultural activities and mixed-team exhibition games in which Indian and New Zealand players shared the same sides.
While India’s women recorded a 17–0 win, the men’s team lost 32–0 to New Zealand’s Māori youth side Tama Toa. The contrasting results underlined the value of international exposure for young athletes across both teams.
The series also provided a platform for cultural exchange, bringing young players together through sport while commemorating a century of sporting connections between the two countries.
For India’s young women rugby players, the 17–0 result was more than a scoreline. It was an opportunity to demonstrate their ability on an international stage and put women’s rugby in the spotlight.
