Rugby India and GMR Sports have announced the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL), set to take place from June 1–15 at the Mumbai Football Arena. Star Sports and JioStar will serve as official broadcast partners.
The league, in the rugby 7s format, will feature six city-based franchises including Mumbai Dreamers, Delhi Redz, Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Hyderabad Heroes, and Kalinga Black Tigers. Backed by World Rugby, the RPL boasts a 15-day global window, allowing the participation of 30 marquee international players from top rugby nations and 18 additional global players, alongside 30 Indian talents selected through an auction.
Top global coaches like Mike Friday, Ben Gollings, DJ Forbes, and Tomasi Cama will guide teams across 34 high-intensity games. The RPL aims to elevate Indian rugby, offering unmatched exposure and creating a thrilling sports spectacle for Indian viewers.
Organizers and stakeholders, including Rahul Bose (President, Rugby India) and Satyam Trivedi (CEO, GMR Sports), emphasized the league’s potential to revolutionize rugby in India and captivate a broader audience.