The first-ever Rugby Premier League (RPL) started in India with six teams gathering in Mumbai for the Player Draft and Auction. Organized by the Indian Rugby Football Union, the RPL is the world’s first franchise-based rugby league. The six founding teams are Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and Mumbai Dreamers. Each team picked their squad of 13 players through a draft and an auction process.
How the Draft and Auction Were Organized
Each team had 8 players selected through the draft and 5 players through the auction. The auction pool included only Indian players. The RPL will be played in a Rugby Sevens format, starting on June 1 and ending with the grand final on June 15 at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. A total of 34 matches will take place, giving Indian players a rare chance to play with some of the best talents from around the world.
International Stars Join the Rugby Premier League
The RPL will feature 30 famous international players from top Rugby Sevens countries like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, and Spain. Players from Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany will also participate, making the league even more competitive. From India, 30 players were selected out of a pool of 71 players through the auction.
Bengaluru Bravehearts Build a Strong Squad
Owned by Manipal Education & Medical Group, InCred, and Soham Energy, the Bengaluru Bravehearts selected these players in the draft: Henry Kirwan, Liam Poulton, Mak Chung, Akuila Rokolisoa, Iowane Teba, Tone Shiu, Pol Pla, and Scott Curry.
At the auction, they picked:
- Mohit Khatri (INR 4.75 Lakhs)
- Karan Rajbhar (INR 80,000)
- Arpan Chhetri (INR 60,000)
- Suresh Kumar (INR 50,000)
- Prashant Singh (INR 50,000)
Chennai Bulls Strengthen Their Lineup
Owned by AVIDSYS Sports, the Chennai Bulls drafted Hannes Adler, Haakon Oeb, Nikias Lohe, Terry Kennedy, Joseva Talacolo, Ratu Sauturaga, Joaquin Pellandini, and Alexander Davis.
At the auction, they selected:
- Vallabh Patil (INR 1 Lakh)
- Shanawaz Ahmed (INR 80,000)
- Vinayak Hariraj (INR 50,000)
- Muhammed Jasim EP (INR 50,000)
- Vinay A (INR 50,000)
Delhi Redz Make Strategic Moves
Owned by RMZ, Delhi Redz picked Thomas Richards, Michael Coverdale, Moritz Noll, Osadczuk Lucas, Matteo Graziano, Alejandro Castro, Patrick Odongo, and Jordan Conroy through the draft.
From the auction, they secured:
- Rajdeep Saha (INR 2.75 Lakhs)
- Deepak Punia (INR 2.50 Lakhs)
- Mohit (INR 50,000)
- Sunil Chawan (INR 50,000)
- Raj Kumar (INR 50,000)
Hyderabad Heroes Choose a Balanced Team
Owned by KLO Sports, the Hyderabad Heroes selected James Christie, Max Roddick, Fong Fung, Luciano Rizzoni, Joji Nasova, Manuel Asensi, Terio Veilawa, and Regan Ware.
At the auction, they picked:
- Prince Khatri (INR 3.75 Lakhs)
- Sumit Roy (INR 1.25 Lakhs)
- Javed Hussein (INR 90,000)
- Sukumar Hembrom (INR 60,000)
- Sambit Pradhan (INR 50,000)
Kalinga Black Tigers Target Top Talent
Owned by Hutch Ventures, the Kalinga Black Tigers drafted Kyle Tremblay, Ethan Turner, James Thiel, Rosko Specman, Lucas Lacamp, Perry Baker, Harry Mcnulty, and Maurice Longbottom.
They added to their team during the auction:
- Ajay Deswal (INR 2.75 Lakhs)
- Asis Sabar (INR 1.50 Lakhs)
- Pappu Todkar (INR 60,000)
- Pardeep Singh (INR 50,000)
- Arjun Mahato (INR 50,000)
Mumbai Dreamers Select a Mix of Power and Speed
The Mumbai Dreamers picked Elias Hancock, Rhys James, Briar Barron, James Turner, Waisea Nacuqu, Henry Hutchison, Aaron Cummings, and Santiago Mare during the draft.
From the auction, they added:
- Neeraj (INR 2.75 Lakhs)
- Devendra Padir (INR 1.25 Lakhs)
- Akash Balmiki (INR 90,000)
- Nayan K (INR 50,000)
- Ganesh Majhi (INR 50,000)
GMR Sports Looks to the Future of Indian Rugby
Satyam Trivedi, CEO of GMR Sports, shared that the Rugby Premier League is a major step to grow rugby in India. He said the league will give Indian players the chance to compete with international stars and improve their game. With rugby now an Olympic sport, GMR Sports is excited to support its growth in India.
A Long Journey to Launch the Rugby Premier League
Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union, explained that the RPL took six years to plan. Thanks to World Rugby, India received a special 15-day window where no international Rugby Sevens events are scheduled. This allowed many top players to participate. Rahul Bose praised the support from team owners and broadcast partner JioHotstar, and called Rugby Sevens one of the most exciting sports to watch. He welcomed everyone to experience the first Rugby Premier League.