Rugby Premier League (RPL), the world’s first franchise-based rugby sevens league will begin in Mumbai in June 2025. The league is expected to include the participation of Indian players as well as the the world’s leading talents in the sport.
World Rugby has given RPL a 15-day window in which no international rugby sevens would be played anywhere in the world ensuring the participation of some of the world’s leading players in the league.
The six teams that will participate in RPL are Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and the Mumbai Dreamers. Rugby Premier League will have 34 matches played over 15 days.
Get. Set. Rugby!
— Rugby Premier League (@RPLIndia) April 5, 2025#RugbyPremierLeague action begins soon at the iconic Shahaji Raje Bhosale Kreeda Sankul in Mumbai!
Mark your calendars for 1st June, 2025. #RPLisHere pic.twitter.com/cx1hS533EU
Thirty marquee international players from the leading rugby sevens nations, including Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Fiji, USA, and Ireland will be participating in the tournament.
Among those who will feature in the RPL are three-times Olympian Perry Baker of the United States, New Zealand’s 2021 Olympic silver medallist Scott Curry and Ireland’s former World Rugby 7s Player of the Year Terry Kennedy.
It will also have 18 international players from Canada, Hong Kong and Germany.
Thirty Indian players selected out of a pool of 71 will also be featuring in the league. Mohit Khatri emerged as the most expensive player at the in the inaugural auction for RPL that took place in Mumbai yesterday (6 April 2025). The Bengaluru Bravehearts got him for Rs 4.5 lakhs.
The Rugby Premier League is organised by Rugby India. Well known Indian actor Rahul Bose is the President of Rugby India. He himself played Rugby for India between 1998-2009.
RPL will take place from 1-15 June 2025 at Mumbai’s Football arena. A ten year partnership between Rugby India and GMR Sports was announced last December to launch the league in 2025.
Hyped, excited & ready !
— Rugby Premier League (@RPLIndia) April 2, 2025
April 4th – Mark your!#RugbyPremierLeague@RugbyIndia | @RahulBose1 | @SANAYAMEHTAVYAS | @sports_gmr pic.twitter.com/b7Tx0liWHf
Rugby India manages all of India’s national teams including men’s, women’s, men’s seven, women’s seven and U20 teams. While this season will debut with the men’s teams, the 2026 season will have both men’s and women’s league.
The league also has a strong Australian Link. The Chennai Bulls is owned by AvidSys Group’s Avid Sports which is an Indian-Australian sports company. It is the only foreign-owned franchise in the league and represents a bold fusion of Australian sporting tradition and India’s emerging rugby potential.
Backed by Avid Sports, the Chennai Bulls are not just a team but also aim to build a rugby ecosystem from the ground up — training schoolkids, empowering coaches, and bringing global expertise to local communities.
Brad Thorn—legendary dual-code international and former All Black, Queensland Reds and Kangaroos star—is their Brand Ambassador.
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