Rugby India launches Rugby Premier League in partnership with GMR Sports. |
In a path-breaking and historic moment for Indian rugby, Rugby India in partnership with GMR Sports has announced the launch of Rugby Premier League, the world’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s league.
The tournament will take place in Mumbai at the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Prathisthan Andheri Sports Complex from June 1 to June 15, 2025.
The league will feature six franchises featuring major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar.
A total of 34 matches will be played over 15 days with the best global Rugby 7s players alongside India’s finest rugby talent in action over the fortnight with matches being telecast live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
The franchises are named Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and the Mumbai Dreamers.
A dedicated window has been created on the global Rugby 7s calendar, ensuring the participation of the sport’s biggest stars.
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.
Speaking on this path breaking development, Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, said:
“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. 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 JioStar, 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.”
“The Rugby Premier League marks a pivotal moment in our mission to elevate rugby in India. By showcasing a vibrant mix of international and Indian talent, and with the unwavering support of our franchise owners, this league is poised to redefine the future of the sport. We believe that the RPL will not only captivate a wider audience but also provide Indian players with invaluable opportunities to compete alongside the world’s best, thereby raising the standard of rugby in our country. As rugby continues to grow as an Olympic sport, GMR Group is excited to contribute to its holistic development in India.” Satyam Trivedi, CEO, GMR Sports, added.
“At JioStar, we are revolutionizing the universe of sports entertainment by delivering compelling, fan-centric experiences. We are leveraging the combined power of Star Sports’s brand of story-telling, JioHotstar’s technological prowess, and the universality of our integrated platforms. Our diversified portfolio of sporting properties seeks to serve audiences at scale as well as niche segments of fans, which can grow to be significant. The Rugby Premier League in the fast-growing Rugby 7s format offers the opportunity to attract new audience segments and also offer existing audiences a compelling, new proposition to develop an affiliation for, ” Sanjog Gupta, CEO-Sports, JioStar, said.
