The National Rugby 15s Championship 2026 – Division 1 continued to deliver high-intensity action on its third day at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, as defending champions Delhi Hurricanes and Future Hope Harlequins powered their way into the men’s semi-finals with commanding quarter-final victories.
In Quarter-final 3, Delhi Hurricanes showcased their championship pedigree with a resounding 48-6 triumph over Bangalore Rugby Club. Led by captain Neeraj Khatri, the Hurricanes unleashed a potent attacking display, crossing for seven tries. Shivam Shukla opened the scoring, while Abhishek Shukla bagged a brace. Pradeep Kumar Tanwar, Neeraj Khatri himself, Mohit Khatri, and Vikas Khatri also dotted down, with Aniket providing reliable conversions and Deepak Punia adding to the tally. Bangalore Rugby Club managed only two penalty goals through Arvinjit Oinam, highlighting the one-sided nature of the contest.
Delhi Hurricanes’ dominant performance underlined their intent to defend their title in style, demonstrating depth, discipline, and clinical finishing throughout the match.
In Quarter-final 4, Future Hope Harlequins produced a disciplined and clinical shutout, defeating Sergeant Institute Rugby Club 26-0 to secure their semi-final berth. Sumit Kumar Roy led the charge with two tries, supported by scores from Shakti Nag and Pritam Kumar Singh. Rajdeep Saha’s accurate kicking added the extras as the Harlequins maintained a clean sheet, reflecting their strong defensive organisation and attacking efficiency.
With these results, Delhi Hurricanes will face Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Rugby Club (KISS RC), while Future Hope Harlequins take on Bombay Gymkhana Rugby Club in the men’s semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, promising exciting clashes at Kalinga Stadium.
Earlier in the day, in a placement match to determine ninth position, Delhi Lions Rugby Club edged out Odisha Rugby Club 20-15. Odisha RC took an early lead, but Delhi Lions fought back strongly with tries from Chanderpal, Akbar, Monu Yadav, and Nischay Sawhney to claim the victory.
The focus now shifts to the women’s competition on Tuesday, March 10, with semi-final action set to light up Kalinga Stadium:
- Semi-final 1: Odisha Rugby Club vs CC&FC – 4:00 PM
- Semi-final 2: Delhi Hurricanes vs Future Hope Harlequins – 5:45 PM
- Plate match: Chandigarh United vs Rugby Warriors Kerala – 7:15 PM
Organised by the Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India) with support from the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association, the National Rugby 15s Championship remains India’s premier club rugby tournament. It serves as a crucial platform for talent identification, development, and the pathway to the national team, showcasing the growth of the sport across the country.
