India Gears Up for its First-Ever Rugby Premier League

Rugby, a sport long overshadowed in the Indian subcontinent by cricket and football, is finally poised for a major breakthrough. With the official launch of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) India, set to kick off in June 2025, the country is witnessing the rise of a professional platform that could redefine the trajectory of rugby in South Asia.

This inaugural season marks a pivotal moment for Indian rugby—not just as a competitive sport, but as a growing cultural and commercial force. Here’s a detailed look into what the RPL entails, the vision behind it, the structure of the league, the players to watch, and how it could transform India’s sporting landscape.

A Long Time Coming: The Rise of Rugby in India

Rugby in India has been played since the 19th century, largely introduced by British expatriates during their colonial rule. Though the sport never quite reached the mass popularity of cricket or kabaddi, it has quietly developed a committed following over the decades. The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), under Rugby India, has worked to promote the sport at the grassroots and national levels.

India’s national teams, both men and women, have shown glimpses of potential in international sevens and fifteen-a-side competitions, despite facing challenges such as funding, infrastructure, and limited exposure.

The launch of the Rugby Premier League is the culmination of years of developmental efforts and global partnerships aimed at professionalizing the sport in the country.

The Vision Behind RPL India

Backed by Rugby India, in collaboration with international rugby federations and private investors, including stakeholders from the UK, South Africa, and Australia. The RPL aims to create a sustainable, entertaining, and high-performance league that nurtures talent and builds a nationwide fanbase.

Rugby India President Rahul Bose, a former national player and actor, has been a key advocate. Speaking at the launch event in Mumbai, he said, “This league is not just about competition—it’s about creating heroes, inspiring the youth, and embedding rugby into the heart of Indian sports culture.”

Announcement of Rugby Premier League with GMR Sports. Rahul Bose-President of Rugby India (L)

The RPL hopes to do for rugby what the IPL did for cricket—a bold ambition that combines sport, entertainment, business, and development.

And according to sources, stakeholders are expected to invest Rs 20–25 crore in the league during its inaugural year, with the figure set to rise as the league expands. And Dream11 chief marketing officer Vikrant Mudaliar said the platform, which has 240 million users, will launch a rugby fantasy sports category to coincide with the RPL.

League Structure and Format

The inaugural season of the RPL will feature six franchise teams, each representing a key region in India:

1. Mumbai Dreamers
2. Delhi Redz
3. Chennai Bulls
4. Kalinga Black Tigers
5. Bengaluru Bravehearts
6. Hyderabad Heros

Teams of this season’s RPL

Format

All six teams will compete against each other during a 34-match schedule over 15 days. The first edition will be held from 1-15 June 2025, at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

The format is as follows:

• Rugby Premier League will feature two matches per night on weekdays and three matches per night on weekends.
• Matches will be four minutes per quarter with two minutes break between each quarter, or 22 minutes per match.
• A double round-robin format will see 30 pool games played, with each team playing 10 pool matches. There will be two semi-finals, a bronze medal match and a final for a total of 34 matches.
• Teams will play a maximum of 10 pool games and two playoff matches over the 15 days of competition.

Draft

Each RPL franchise will consist of a 13 player squad with the main attraction being 5 active and former international marquee players from tier-one nations, 3 bridge players and 5 local Indian players.

5 international marquee rugby 7s players: Meant to be active players from the World Rugby Sevens ecosystem.

• 3 international bridge players: From Hong Kong, Germany and Canada.
• 5 Indian players: Meant to be India’s best rugby 7s players.
• Management team: Head Coach, Indian Assistant Coach, Physiotherapist, Massage Therapist and Team Manager.

Squads after Player Draft and Auction

1. Owned by the pool of Manipal Education & Medical Group, InCred, Soham Energy.The Bengaluru Bravehearts are promoted by Ranjan Pai, chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group, along with InCred chairman Bhupinder Singh and Soham Infrastructure chairman Sanjith Shetty. Picked Henry Kirwan, Liam Poulton, Mak Chung, Akuila Rokolisoa, Iowane Teba, Tone Shiu, Pol Pla, and Scott Curry in the draft round. During the auction, they acquired Mohit Khatri (INR 4.75 Lakhs), Karan Rajbhar (INR 80,000), Arpan Chhetri (INR 60,000), Suresh Kumar (INR 50,000), and Prashant Singh (INR 50,000).
2. AVIDSYS Sports-owned Chennai Bulls went for Hannes Adler, Haakon Oeb, Nikias Lohe, Terry Kennedy, Joseva Talacolo, Ratu Sauturaga, Joaquin Pellandini, and Alexander Davis in the draft. At the auction, they cherry-picked Vallabh Patil ( ₹1 Lakh), Shanawaz Ahmed ( ₹80,000), Vinayak Hariraj ( ₹50,000), Muhammed Jasim EP ( ₹50,000), and Vinay A ( ₹50,000).
3. RMZ’s Delhi Redz drafted Thomas Richards, Michael Coverdale, Moritz Noll, Osadczuk Lucas, Matteo Graziano, Alejandro Castro, Patrick Odongo, and Jordan Conroy in the first round. After that, the team signed on the services of Rajdeep Saha ( ₹2.75 Lakhs), Deepak Punia ( ₹2.50 Lakhs), Mohit ( ₹50,000), Sunil Chawan ( ₹50,000), and Raj Kumar ( ₹50,000).
4. KLO Sports’ Hyderabad Heroes hand-picked James Christie, Max Roddick, Fong Fung, Luciano Rizzoni, Joji Nasova, Manuel Asensi, Terio Veilawa, and Regan Ware at the draft. And later on, went shopping for Prince Khatri ( ₹3.75 Lakh), Sumit Roy ( ₹1.25 Lakh), Javed Hussein ( ₹90,000), Sukumar Hembrom ( ₹60,000), and Sambit Pradhan ( ₹50,000).
5. The Kalinga Black Tigers, who Hutch Ventures own, wasted no time in giving the nod for Kyle Tremblay, Ethan Turner, James Thiel, Rosko Specman, Lucas Lacamp, Perry Baker, Harry Mcnulty, and Maurice Longbottom in the draft. Once at the auction, they prised out the services of Ajay Deswal ( ₹2.75 Lakh), Asis Sabar ( ₹1.50 Lakh), Pappu Todkar ( ₹60,000), Pardeep Singh ( ₹50,000) and Arjun Mahato ( ₹50,000).
6. The Mumbai Dreamers, which is owned by Dream Sports, the parent company of the fantasy sports platform Dream11, bought Elias Hancock, Rhys James, Briar Barron, James Turner, Waisea Nacuqu, Henry Hutchison, Aaron Cummings, and Santiago Mare in the draft. Joining them in the squad from the auction round were Neeraj ( ₹2.75 Lakh), Devendra Padir ( ₹1.25 Lakh), Akash Balmiki ( ₹90,000), Nayan K ( ₹50,000) and Ganesh Majhi ( ₹50,000).

Broadcasting, Sponsors, and Marketing

The RPL has already secured a broadcasting deal with Viacom18, ensuring matches will be aired across Sports18 channels and live-streamed on JioCinema, making the league widely accessible.

Title sponsorship discussions are ongoing, with brands in the fitness, apparel, and energy drink sectors reportedly vying for association. Experts believe the sport’s physicality and speed appeal to the younger demographic, aligning well with edgy, youth-centric marketing.

There are also plans to launch a documentary series chronicling the journey of players and teams, which will be streamed on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Players to Watch

Among the Indian contingent, several names are being tipped as breakout stars:

• Mohit Khatri (Bengaluru Bravehearts) 
• Neeraj Khatri (Mumbai Dreamers) 
• Prince Khatri (Hyderabad Heros)
• Ajay Deswal (Kalinga Black Tigers)
• Rajdeep Saha (Delhi Redz)
• Vallabh Patil (Chennai Bulls)

Challenges

Despite the optimism, the RPL must navigate several challenges:

Cultural acceptance: Rugby still remains unfamiliar to large swaths of the population.

• Player depth: India has a relatively small pool of elite-level players.
• Infrastructure: Many cities lack proper rugby pitches, although upgrades are underway.
• Financial sustainability: The league will need to retain sponsors, viewership, and ticket sales beyond the honeymoon phase.
  

Yet, with strategic planning and consistent promotion, the league has a chance to carve an entry in this niche market.

Conclusion: A New Chapter Begins

India’s Rugby Premier League is a bold step into uncharted territory. By blending athleticism with entertainment and development with business, it seeks to create a new sporting frontier in India. For players, fans, and sports lovers, the RPL promises to bring in excitement of rugby to living rooms and stadiums alike.

RPL Draft Day

More than just a league, it’s a movement, one that could redefine how India plays and perceives sports beyond cricket and football. As the opening whistle nears, all eyes will be on the RPL, and for the first time in a long time, Indian rugby will be in the spotlight it has long deserved. 

Authored by: Salil Mehta