India To Launch Rugby Sevens League To Boost Olympic Hopes And Attract Fans

Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 11:17 IST

India is launching the Rugby Premier League (RPL) in Mumbai, featuring 34 matches over two weeks. Rugby India president Rahul Bose aims to attract fans and nurture Olympic dreams.

Rugby Premier League could be India's gateway to producing Olympic-level athletes. (Credits: Rugby Premier League)

India is set to launch a rugby sevens league this weekend, making a bold effort to attract fans and nurture Olympic dreams in a nation where cricket reigns supreme.

The 34-match Rugby Premier League (RPL), starting Sunday in Mumbai, will span two weeks and feature legends of the game like the United States’ try-scoring powerhouse Perry Baker.

“Is there space for a sport outside of cricket in India? 100 percent," said Rugby India president Rahul Bose in an interview with AFP, expressing his ambition to convert sports fans to the fast-paced, short-form version of rugby union.

The RPL, operated by GMR Sports, which also owns a team in the cricketing giant Indian Premier League (IPL), will feature Indian rugby players in six franchise teams alongside 30 globally experienced teammates, including current World Rugby Sevens Series stars such as Australia’s Maurice Longbottom and Fiji’s Filipe Sauturaga.

The coaching lineup includes former USA mentor Mike Friday, New Zealand legends Tomasi Cama and DJ Forbes, and England great Ben Gollings.

Bose, a former India rugby international and successful Bollywood actor, has high aspirations.

“An Indian (rugby) team getting into the Olympics, whether it’s men or women, is inevitable," Bose stated, believing it could happen within a decade.

This vision could potentially see an Indian team participating in a home Olympics in 2036, an event Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed a desire to host.

“There’s a lot of money," Bose noted, highlighting that the budget of the Mumbai-based national rugby federation had grown over 30-fold. “There’s a lot of opportunity."

He remained discreet about specific funding details, only revealing that overseas stars in the RPL were receiving an “equitable" fee compared to their earnings in global tournaments.

India’s track record at the Olympics has been modest, with only 10 gold medals in its history. Cricket presents a clear opportunity to boost this tally when it makes its return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but India is eager to be competitive in other sports.

Fiji scrum-half Terio Tamani, who will play for Hyderabad Heroes, believes rugby has potential. “They have facilities, they have money for them to develop," said Tamani, whose country secured their first Olympic medal with men’s rugby gold in 2016.

India’s captain, Prince Khatri of Hyderabad, described training and playing with marquee stars he had previously only seen on television as “a dream come true." “I’m learning a lot," he added. “This is just the beginning."

The RPL has talent scouts working nationwide to recruit youngsters into six regional training centres. “That’s the real gold dust," said former USA coach Friday, now training Kalinga Black Tigers. “Because ultimately the league will happen for 14 days, but it’s about what happens after in the other 11 months."

Baker, a two-time World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, believes the league will expedite the development of local players. “Having these top-calibre players around will help elevate them," he said.

Kiran Kumar Grandhi, chairman of GMR Sports, remarked that hosting “world-class" rugby in India would promote grassroots development. GMR, a New Delhi-based conglomerate involved in sectors like airports and highways, owns the IPL’s Delhi Capitals and franchises in India’s Pro Kabaddi League and Ultimate Kho Kho League.

India is pushing for both of those tag-type sports to be included in the Olympics.

Rugby has a long history in India, dating back to 1871 during British rule when the glittering silver Calcutta Cup was created. This remains the oldest trophy contested between international rugby union teams, specifically England and Scotland.

Despite its history, rugby has remained a niche sport. The RPL’s venue, the 7,000-capacity Mumbai Football Arena, is not even a dedicated rugby pitch. However, RPL organisers are confident that, just as the IPL saw ratings soar with the T20 transformation of cricket, they can attract fans and sponsors with a version of rugby where matches are over in a rapid 22 minutes.

“The sport is just built for spectators and television," Bose said, ambitiously hoping for 10 to 15 million viewers through broadcast giants Star Sports and JioStar.

India’s Arpan Chhetri, set to play for Bengaluru Bravehearts, stated the players’ singular ambition. “Our target is to get into the Olympics," he said. “We will keep going until we succeed."

(with AFP inputs)

News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

First Published:

News sports India To Launch Rugby Sevens League To Boost Olympic Hopes And Attract Fans