Hyderabad Heroes captain Manuel Moreno says a single bruising spell in the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL) season delivered one of the most instructive moments of his career — and that the lesson will shape how he leads the franchise in Season 2, which kicks off on 16 June. The Spanish international, who guided Hyderabad through an otherwise unbeaten league stage before the team claimed the bronze medal, believes those 16 minutes of adversity revealed everything about what separates good teams from great ones.

A Near-Perfect Season With One Costly Lesson

Hyderabad Heroes were arguably the most consistent side in the RPL's debut edition, going unbeaten through the league stage in what Moreno describes as 'quite a considerable way.' Yet a single match changed the trajectory of their campaign entirely, costing them a shot at the gold medal.

'Hyderabad Heroes was unbeaten all of last season in quite a considerable way, just one bad game, which is just 16 bad minutes, and the result was completely different from what we were aiming for last season, which is something that can teach a rugby player a lot,' Moreno said in an exclusive interaction.

'This reiterates the fact that the result in a game of rugby can change within minutes and that being prepared in those moments and being able to pivot strategy is most crucial. In our case, it was the difference between a chance to fight for the gold and the bronze medal. But we move on as a squad and learn from that,' he added.

About the Rugby Premier League

The Rugby Premier League is the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league, founded in 2024 to accelerate the growth and global profile of the format. The inaugural season in 2025 featured six city-based teams. The 2026 edition expands the competition further with the addition of a women's league comprising four teams, marking a significant step in the sport's domestic development in India.

A Settled Core Heading Into Season 2

Hyderabad have retained the nucleus of their title-contending squad. Moreno and Kenyan international Kevin Wekesa were secured ahead of the auction, while key players Sumit Roy Kumar, Sambit Pradhan, and Wolfram Hacker have also returned to the fold. The continuity gives the franchise a structural advantage heading into a more competitive second season.

The Mindset Behind the Captain

Away from the field, Moreno juggles medical studies alongside modelling assignments — a demanding combination that he says has sharpened his mental discipline on the pitch.

'The biggest thing that this has taught me is to take things one at a time, doing everything all at once or thinking about everything as a whole can get overwhelming,' he said. 'This can be translated to the field of rugby as well, where sometimes breaking down a strategy or looking at a problem in isolation can help turn games around faster. The key is to slow things down and never lose perspective of your goal.'

Moreno is among the most decorated players in the competition. He was named among the 14 best rugby sevens players at the World Rugby Sevens Series in Toulouse in 2023, represented Spain at the European Games that same year, and was selected in the 2024-25 SVNS Dream Team of the Year in May 2025. Yet he insists the sport continues to humble him daily.

'Every day on the rugby field is a humbling experience. As a player, there are always facets of the game that we are actively trying to improve. With the introduction of newer players, the game of rugby is extremely dynamic, and it is extremely important to keep learning and growing,' he said.

Leading a Diverse Dressing Room

One of the defining challenges of franchise rugby is welding together players from different nations, cultures, and playing philosophies. Moreno, who leads a squad drawn from across the globe, says adaptability is the non-negotiable quality for any captain in this format.

'When you play with such a diverse bunch of players, it is always important to keep an open mind and understand the different styles that everyone brings to the table,' he explained. 'It is not just about how I play or the Spanish play, since the majority of the squad consists of players from everywhere else. The most important thing for me as a leader also is to understand the possibilities of playing the way I play within the Spanish team and how I can play and get the best of myself and the squad within an international group of players.'

With a settled core, hard-won experience from Season 1, and a captain who has processed the cost of a single lapse in concentration, Hyderabad Heroes head into RPL Season 2 with unfinished business — and a clear idea of what it will take to go one further than bronze.