In the womens final, KISS defeated Keonjhar by 10-5 points. The battle for the third position saw Jagatsinghpur triumph over Mayurbhanj, also with a score line of 10-5 points. KISS mens team trounced Keonjhar in the lop-sided final 20-0, while Mayurbhanj secured a 10-5 victory over Bhubaneswar in the match for third place.

ORFA president Priyadarshi Mishra, secretary UK Mohanty, joint-secretary Sushanta Kumar Sahoo and treasurer Shakti Ranjan Mohanty graced the closing ceremony and handed over the trophies. The Inter-District Tournament served as the selection trial for the upcoming Senior National Rugby 7s Championships, scheduled to be held in Guwahati, Assam from 23 to 28 April 2025.

But the Inter-District Tournament once again indicated that functioning of ORFA is not transparent and there is more to it than meets the eye. If it is an inter-district tournament of the State, how come KISS, an educational institution, is allowed to compete? Is it not right to name it as State championship, where affiliated districts, public and private institutions can participate?

It is alleged that most of the participating teams were fake district units and most of the players of these teams belong to one private institution, which controls rugby in the State and uses it to promote its business. Are all district units of ORFA registered bodies? Does ORFA have a data base of its registered players?

Which district teams participated in the Senior Inter-District Tournament and who represented these district teams? Despite repeated request ORFA did not share this information. Of course, KIIT Sports DG Dr Gaganendu Dash revealed the names of the players of KISS men and women teams. But it was not possible to verify the authenticity of the names. Did Dumuni Majhi represent KISS women team? Why should not ORFA make things clear?

It is also alleged that rugby is not being allowed to go beyond Bhubaneswar because of the monopoly of a private institution and ORFA is working as per the terms dictated by that institution. It may be recalled that despite being a powerhouse in rugby, Odisha failed to field its teams in the National U-15 Rugby 7s Championship, held earlier this year in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Another curious case of rugby in Odisha is that the State Government found the sport rising steadily in terms of popularity and participation and sponsored the National rugby teams from 2020, spending Rs 4.5 crores per year!

SENIOR INTER-DISTRICT CHAMPION KISS RUGBY TEAMS:

WOMEN: Mama Naik, Tarulata Naik, Puspanjali Naik, Ranjita Naik, Rasmi Xalxo, Swapnarani Singh, Geetarani Sai, Ankita Tirkey, Hupi Majhi, Dumuni Marndi, Ranjani Sabar, Parbati Kisku.

MEN: Jugal Kishore Majhi, Asis Sabar, Ganesh Dhangada Majhi, Ashok Hansdah, Sanjay Kisan, Binod Marndi, Manoj Singh, Malay Kanhar, Gouranga Jamuda, Bikash Chandra Murmu, Rajkishore Murmu, Badal Singh.
Coach: Hadi Dhangada Majhi; Manager: Chandan Soren.
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TOP: KISS womens team lift the champions trophy at the 12th Senior Inter-District Rugby 7s Tournament in Bhubaneswar on 12 April 2025.
RIGHT: KISS mens team poses with the champions trophy at the 12th Senior Inter-District Rugby 7s Tournament in Bhubaneswar on 12 April 2025.