Chennai Bulls Triumph Over Delhi Redz in Rugby Premier League Showdown

In an exciting round of the Rugby Premier League, the Chennai Bulls defeated the Delhi Redz 24-7, reclaiming the top spot in the points table. Vaafauese Maliko's hat-trick was pivotal for the Bulls. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Bravehearts halted the Hyderabad Heroes' winning streak with a close 26-21 victory, showcasing impressive performances from international stars. Read on for a detailed recap of these thrilling matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2025, 07:56 IST

Chennai Bulls Claim Victory in Rugby Premier League

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 23: The Chennai Bulls have reclaimed the top position in the points table following a decisive 24-7 victory against the Delhi Redz at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex during the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL).

The Delhi Redz, who have recently seen an improvement in their performance, began the match strongly. With a solid defensive strategy and aggressive offense, they took an early lead thanks to a try from Matteo Graziano, which was successfully converted by Matias Osadczuk.

However, the Bulls soon found their rhythm, with Vaafauese Maliko scoring two tries, allowing them to take a narrow 3-point lead at halftime. After the break, the Bulls intensified their efforts, and Maliko completed his hat-trick. Filipe Sauturaga added a successful conversion, extending the Bulls' lead to 10 points.

Haakon Oess contributed five more points, with Sauturaga converting again, securing a significant win for the Bulls and restoring their position at the top of the table.

In another match, the Bengaluru Bravehearts ended the Hyderabad Heroes' winning streak with a 26-21 victory, also held at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex during Season 1 of the Rugby Premier League.

The Bravehearts started strong, with international players Akuila Rokolisoa and Philip Wokorach performing well together. Rokolisoa scored a try and a conversion, while Wokorach added another try, giving the Bravehearts a 12-0 advantage. The Heroes responded with a try from Wolfram Hacker, followed by a conversion from Manuel Moreno.

Before halftime, Iowane Teba scored for the Bravehearts, and Rokolisoa's kick further increased their lead. The Heroes, who began the match at the top of the points table, rallied back with two tries and a conversion from Terio Tamani, taking a 21-19 lead with just four minutes remaining.

Nevertheless, the Bravehearts fought back, with Pol Pla scoring five points and Rokolisoa adding two more, ultimately turning the game in their favor and securing a vital win.