Rugby India, the National Governing Body for the sport in India, in partnership with GMR Sports, proudly presents the Rugby Premier League (RPL)—the world’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s league.
The tournament will take place in Mumbai at the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Prarthisthan Andheri Sports Complex (Mumbai Football Arena, MFA) from June 1 to June 15, 2025.
RPL will welcome 30 marquee international players from powerhouse Rugby 7s nations, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA and Spain. Some of the biggest names in the sport include:
Perry Baker, USA – 2X World Rugby 7s player of the year, 3X Olympian
Rosko Speckman, South Africa – 2 X Olympian – 2XBronze
Harry McNulty, Ireland – 2X Olympian + 2X Rugby World Cup Medalist
Terry Kennedy, Ireland – World Rugby 7s Player of the year 2022, World Series Top Try Scorer 2022 and 2024
Patrick Odongo, Kenya – Represented Kenya at the Paris Olympics
Jordan Conroy, Ireland – 2 X Olympian, World Rugby Sevens Series and RWC7s Medalist
Alex Davis, Great Britain – England 7s, Olympian
Lucas Lacamp, USA – Olympian
Tone Ng Shiu – New Zealand – Olympian, 2019 NZ Rugby 7s Player of the Year, Bronze, 2022 Commonwealth Games
Aaron Cummings, USA – Olympian
Scott Curry, New Zealand – 4 time New Zealand 7s player of the year, 3X Commonwealth games medalist, Silver 2021 Olympics, 6 X World Rugby Sevens Series Champion & RWC 7s Gold
Lucian Gonzalez – Argentina -Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023, HSBC World Svns Dream Team
Santiago Mare -Argentina- Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics,World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Joaquim Pellandini – Argentina – Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Matteo Grazziano – Argentina -Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Mattias Osadczuk – Argentina – Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023, HSBC World Svns Dream Team
Akuila Rokolisoa, New Zealand- Olympian, Gold, RWC 7s 2018, Bronze, 2022 Commonwealth Games
Alejandro Laforga – Spain – Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Pol Pla – Spain – Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Manuel Moreno – Spain- Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Joseva Talacolo – Fiji – Oceania Games Champions 2021, Common Wealth Games Silver 2022, RWC Gold 2022, 2024 Olympics Silver
Iowane Teba – Fiji – 2024 Olympics Silver, World Series Dubai, Singapore & Toulouse Gold
Terio Veilawai -Fiji – 2024 Olympic Silver, World Series Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong Gold
Filipe Sauturaga – Fiji – 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver , 2024 Olympic Games Silver, RWC Gold
Joji Nasova – Fiji – 2024 Olympic Games Silver, Dubai 7s Gold
Regan Ware, New Zealand – Olympian, Bronze – 2022 Commonwealth Games, Silver, RWC 7s
Waisea Nacuqu-Fiji – 2020 Olympic Games Gold, 2024 Olympic Games Silver, World Series Gold 2018 & 2019, 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver, RWC Gold
Henry Hutchison – Australia- 3X Olympian, 2015 World Rugby Rookie of the Year
Maurice Longbottom – Australia – 2X Olympian
James Turner – Australia-Olympian
Additionally, 18 international players from Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany will feature, enhancing the league’s competitive depth.
Strengthening Indian Rugby
The league will also feature 30 Indian players selected from an auction pool of 71, providing them with a historic platform to compete alongside international legends.
Top-Class Coaching:
Some of the most renowned rugby coaches in the world will coach the RPL teams:
Mike Friday (Former USA 7s Head Coach)
Ben Gollings (England 7s Legend, Former Fiji 7s Head Coach)
DJ Forbes (New Zealand 7s Icon)
Tomasi Cama (New Zealand 7s Head Coach, New Zealand 7s Legend)
Paco Hernandez (Spain 7s Head Coach)
Tim Walsh (Australia Women’s 7s Head Coach)
“This is a league that’s been six years in the making, but we wanted to do everything right. The first extraordinary development came thanks to World Rugby, who gave us a 15 day window in which no international rugby 7s would be played anywhere in the world. This made the best global rugby players available to us,” Rugby India CEO Rahul Bose said.
“From there to partnering with GMR Sports and creating the best conditions for both the international players as well as our Indian players; choosing some of the most intelligent, committed team owners and getting a top class broadcast partner in JioHotstar, it’s been a helluva ride. Rugby 7s is one of the most attractive television sports in modern history. Welcome, India and the world, to the Rugby Premier League,” he added.
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