PANAJI
The CROCS Rugby Foundation, Delhi Hurricanes and Magician Foundation emerged champions in their respective divisions as the Goa 7s International Rugby Festival 2025 concluded with high-intensity finals at the Bambolim Athletic Stadium on Sunday.
The two-day event, supported by Goa Tourism and the Goa Arts & Culture Department along with several Goan sponsors, showcased top-tier rugby talent from India and abroad.
In the men’s contact final, hosts CROCS RFC (Goa) edged Delhi Hurricanes 15-10 in a tense, hard-fought match to claim the Season II title. Black Arches secured third place, while Kerala Wolfpack finished fourth, rounding off a competitive field.
The women’s contact final saw a commanding display from Delhi Hurricanes Women, who outpaced Crocs RFC (Goa) 32-0 with a blend of sharp finishing and disciplined structure. Kerala Wolfpack claimed third place and BRC (Bangalore Rugby Club) came fourth.
In the mixed touch final, Magician Foundation held off Colombo Open (Sri Lanka) for a narrow 3-2 victory in one of the tournament’s most gripping encounters. Bengaluru Pink finished third, with Colombo Legends (Sri Lanka) taking fourth.
In classification matches, Future Hope beat BRC 12-0 in the men’s 5th/6th playoff, J&K Volunteers defeated CROCS RFC 3-0 in the mixed 5th/6th match, Black Arches overcame Kerala Wolfpack 30-5 in the mixed 3rd/4th playoff, and Kerala Wolfpack Women eased past BRC 5-0 in the women’s 3rd/4th fixture.
“Goa 7s is more than just a tournament – it is the beginning of a new sporting culture and a movement in Goa,” said Brandan Crasto, Founder of Goa 7s and President of Crocotryles Rugby Foundation, while thanking stakeholders, sponsors, volunteers and fans for their support.
---
Goans should embrace rugby: Crasto
MARGAO: Highlighting the global rise of high-intensity contact and no-contact combat sports such as MMA, Brandan Crasto, Founder of Goa 7s and President of the Crocotryles Rugby Foundation, said Goans should embrace rugby.
“Sports like MMA have gained massive popularity because of the adrenaline, intensity and skill involved. Rugby offers that same level of excitement — it’s fast, action-packed and electrifying," Crasto said. "Rugby 7s especially is supersonic; the vibe, the energy in the stadium and the pace of the game make it an unforgettable experience."
"The 7s format is the Olympic format, while 15s is the World Cup format. Goa is yet to develop fully into the 15s league, but we have been consistently playing 7s at the national level since 2014-2015,” Crasto added.
