Bengaluru Bravehearts Beat Kolkata Banga Tigers 26-21 to Reach Rugby Semifinals

The Bengaluru Bravehearts secured their place in the semifinals of the HSBC Rugby Premier League after defeating the Kolkata Banga Tigers 26-21 on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. The closely contested rugby match took place at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

The match began with a flying start for the Bengaluru Bravehearts. Jonas Mikalcius, who starred for the Bengaluru side throughout the encounter, crossed over within the opening minutes of the game to give his team an early lead. The Kolkata Banga Tigers responded almost immediately, with Vuiviwa Naduvalo scoring on the left wing to level the score.

The competitive first half continued as Ngarohi McGarvey scored to restore the advantage for the Bengaluru Bravehearts. Kolkata's Naduvalo struck back once again to level the scores for a second time. Before the half-time break, Mikalcius broke through the Kolkata Banga Tigers' defensive line to score, giving the Bravehearts the lead.

Following the interval, the Kolkata Banga Tigers looked to fight back and close the gap. However, their momentum was interrupted when a loose pass was intercepted by Bengaluru's Shilton van Wyk, who capitalized on the mistake to extend the Bravehearts' advantage.

The Bengaluru Bravehearts maintained their defensive intensity to keep the Tigers at bay. Despite the defensive pressure, Naduvalo managed to complete his hat-trick for Kolkata with a brilliant individual effort.

In the closing stages of the match, Bengaluru successfully controlled possession of the ball to secure their hard-fought 26-21 victory and confirm their qualification for the tournament semifinals.