The battle for dominance in Nepali women's rugby reached a fever pitch at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar, with Bagmati Province narrowly claiming the Group A top spot over Karnali Province on pure scoring aggression. The intense weekend clashes have set the stage for a highly anticipated semifinal showdown in the National Rugby Sevens.
Both provincial teams proved equally matched on the field, finishing their direct confrontation with a tense 10-10 draw and securing seven points each. However, Bagmati’s relentless offensive strategy ultimately paid off. Their cumulative tournament score of 65 eclipsed Karnali’s 59, earning them the coveted group winner title. Bagmati dominated Madhesh 35-0 and Lumbini 20-0, while Karnali showcased their own defensive prowess by blanking Lumbini 24-0 and Madhesh 25-0.
Meanwhile, in Group B, the Tribhuvan Army Club asserted absolute authority. The departmental giants defeated the Armed Police Force (APF) 14-5 and demolished Sudurpaschim Province 44-0, cleanly sweeping the group. The final semifinal berth will be decided in the pending clash between APF and Sudurpaschim.
The men's division has already locked in its semifinalists, with Army and Gandaki advancing from Group A, while APF and Koshi progressed from Group B.
Organized by the Nepal Rugby Association and inaugurated by National Sports Council Member Secretary Ram Charit Mehta, the tournament carries a total operational budget of approximately three million rupees. In a commendable move prioritizing athlete welfare, organizers have secured sports accident insurance worth 125,000 rupees for the players, backed by medical support from Bhaktapur International Hospital.
Champions of the tournament will walk away with a cash prize of 50,000 rupees, while the runners-up will take home 30,000 rupees. Outstanding individual performers in both the men's and women's categories will also be rewarded with 5,000 rupees each.
As the knockout stages loom, the remaining teams must now recalibrate their strategies, promising fans a spectacular display of athletic endurance and tactical gameplay in the quest for the national title.
