Pune Girls Rugby Kicks Ass!!

I've posted below some video clips from last Saturday's Women's 7 a side rugby tournament that took place in Pune. This was India's first ever Women's contact rugby tournament. In a country where people are obsessed over a particular stick and ball game, rugby is relatively unnoticed. It does have a cult following and interest is growing among young athletes. India does have a mens rugby team but the women's game has been neglected so far. This tourny was a fantastic opportunity to give the women's game some exposure.

Pune fielded 2 teams. There were teams from Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Hong Kong. Hats off to them for traveling over 25 hours by train (Hong Kong flew in!)to come and play in Pune. At the end of a grueling tournament the Hong Kong Hotties won with the Pune She Elephants coming second.

The tournament was organized by Khare Football and Rugby Academy (KFANDRA) and the Pune District Football and Rugby Association (PDFRA) under the aegis of the Western India Rugby Football Union. Notice to organize this tournament in Pune was short and over a mad two weeks, KFANDRA and PDFRA worked overtime and planned and executed everything meticulously.

Enough talk. Here's some action:

Pune She Elephants v Hong Kong Hotties

Kerala Vs Hong Kong Hotties

Pune Lionesses Vs Jammu and Kashmir

Rugby Carnival Varun's Drum Beat

All in all it was a terrific atmosphere. Parents showed up in large numbers to support us, there was a lot of media coverage and the girls showed great determination and strength. That made for some very competitive and bruising rugby.

Finally thanks to the Rugby brothers of Pune, Swapneel Khare and Surhud Khare, founders of KFANDRA. They made sure that women's rugby in India is finally getting the opportunity and exposure it needs to grow.