Hyderabad Heroes have bolstered their Rugby Premier League Season 2 squad by retaining key internationals Manu Moreno and Kevin Wekesa, while also securing the services of star Indian player Sumit Kumar Roy at the franchise auction held in Hyderabad between 16 June and 28 June 2026. Roy emerged as the highest-bid Indian player at the auction, fetching ₹3.75 lakh after a competitive three-team bidding war.

Auction Strategy and Key Acquisitions

Hyderabad Heroes entered the Season 2 auction with a well-defined strategy: recover as many Season 1 players as possible despite retention-rule constraints. The franchise successfully re-acquired Sambit Pradhan and Wolfram Hacker, both of whom will return to the blue and yellow jersey. The squad continues to be guided by Hall of Famer and head coach DJ Forbes.

Roy, who played for Hyderabad Heroes in Season 1, was the subject of intense competition before the franchise won the bidding war. His return strengthens the Indian core of the squad ahead of what the management expects to be a more decisive campaign.

Sumit Kumar Roy on His Return

'I played for the Hyderabad Heroes last season and will once again be competing for them this season to do better than the result we managed to achieve last year. The trust that the coach and management have shown in me to bring me back this season, along with the other players who will be once again with the HH, gives me immense confidence for the upcoming season. I am excited to be playing alongside our newest teammates and cannot wait to start our campaign,' said Sumit Kumar Roy.

Season 1 Legacy and Season 2 Ambitions

Hyderabad Heroes finished Season 1 with a bronze medal, having remained undefeated through the entire league stage — a record that underlines the squad's competitive depth. The franchise now targets a stronger finish in Season 2, with a roster that blends international pedigree and domestic talent.

The final squad features players from New Zealand (All Blacks), Spain, Australia, Kenya, Uruguay, Samoa, and India, making it one of the more internationally diverse lineups in the league.

Management Speaks

Srinath Chitturi, Co-Owner of KLO Sports, expressed satisfaction with how the auction unfolded. 'We were extremely happy with season 1, and our strategy was very clear that we wanted to make sure we could get back as many players as possible. DJ Forbes has very ably led the team last season, and now with the auction, we cannot wait to kick off our campaign for Season 2. We, at KLO Sports, just want to wish the team the best of luck for the upcoming season and will do everything in our power behind the scenes to give our team the right momentum on the field,' he said.

Full Squad for Season 2

Internationals: Manuel Moreno Asensi, Kevin Wekesa, Maurice Longbottom, Regan Ware, Francisco Cosculluela, Diego Ardao, Dante Sotonida, Ravuama Seruvakula, Wolfram Hacker.

Indians: Shivam Shukla, Sumit Kumar Roy, Muhammed Anes K, Sambit Pradhan, Rajan Rawat.

With the squad now finalised, all eyes turn to how Hyderabad Heroes convert their unbeaten league-stage record from Season 1 into a title run in Season 2.