Mumbai: Rugby India and GMR Sports has announced that JioStar, in association with Star Sports, has been onboarded as the official broadcast partner for the inaugural season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), set to kick off from June 1-15, 2025, at the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Pratishthan Andheri Sports Complex (Mumbai Football Arena, MFA).
The Rugby Premier League will debut as a high-energy Rugby 7s format tournament, featuring six franchise teams — Mumbai Dreamers, Delhi Redz, Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Hyderabad Heroes, and Kalinga Black Tigers — in a battle for national glory across 34 action-packed matches in 15 days.
With a dedicated window secured on the global calendar by World Rugby, the league will witness participation from 30 marquee international players from rugby powerhouses like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, and Spain, along with 18 players from Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany. Additionally, 30 top Indian rugby players will compete, having been selected through an auction pool of 71, making RPL a true melting pot of talent and opportunity.
The coaching roster is equally stellar, with legends such as Mike Friday, Ben Gollings, DJ Forbes, Tomasi Cama, Paco Hernandez, and Tim Walsh lending their expertise, making the RPL not just a tournament but a catalyst for raising the bar of Indian rugby.
Satyam Trivedi, CEO, GMR Sports, shared his excitement about this milestone, “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.”
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, emphasized the significance of the league, “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 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.”
Sanjog Gupta, CEO – Sports, JioStar, expressed his enthusiasm on the new partnership, “At JioHotstar, we are committed to bringing the most thrilling and dynamic sporting action to fans across India. Rugby 7s is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and with the launch of the Rugby Premier League, we are excited to be at the forefront of this historic moment. The league promises electrifying gameplay, international superstars, and India’s finest rugby talent, all coming together in a high-octane spectacle. We look forward to delivering unparalleled coverage, bringing every tackle, sprint, and score to millions of fans, live and exclusive.”
With the convergence of global talent, elite coaching, and premier broadcasting, the Rugby Premier League is set to usher in a new era for rugby in India, igniting passion among fans and paving the way for a stronger presence of the sport in the subcontinent.
