Rugby Premier League Season 2 ball unveiled in Hyderabad ahead of June 16 opener
Synopsis
The Rugby Premier League — the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league — is back for Season 2, and this time it's bigger: a women's competition with four new franchises joins the men's draw, bringing the total to 10 teams. With the ball unveiled in Hyderabad and the opener set for Gachibowli Stadium on 16 June, the RPL is making its boldest statement yet about rugby's future in India.
Key Takeaways
The Rugby Premier League (RPL) unveiled its Season 2 official ball in Hyderabad on 15 June 2026 .
Season 2 opens on 16 June 2026 at Gachibowli Stadium , featuring 10 franchises — up from six in Season 1.
A women's competition with four teams makes its debut in Season 2: Delhi Redz, Kolkata Banga Tigers, Chennai Bulls, and Mumbai Dreamers.
Rugby India president and commissioner Rahul Bose conducted a rugby primer with 12 Telangana Rugby players at the ceremony.
The RPL, founded in 2024 , is the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league .
The Rugby Premier League (RPL) on Monday, 15 June unveiled its official match ball in Hyderabad, one day before the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league kicks off its second season at Gachibowli Stadium. The ceremony brought together captains from all 10 teams, Rugby India president and league commissioner Rahul Bose, and chief marketing officer Sujoy Ganguly.
Captains Who Attended the Unveiling
The men's contingent was represented by Patrick Odongo (Delhi Redz), Manuel Moreno (Hyderabad Heroes), Ricardo Duarttee (Kolkata Banga Tigers), Santiago Alvarez (Chennai Bulls), Impi Visser (Mumbai Dreamers), and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (Bengaluru Bravehearts).
The women's competition was represented by Eden Kilgour (Delhi Redz), Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Kolkata Banga Tigers), Chantelle Miell (Chennai Bulls), and Abigail Brown (Mumbai Dreamers).
A League That Has Already Made History
Founded in 2024, the RPL debuted in 2025 as the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league, initially fielding six city-based men's teams. Season 2 marks a significant expansion: a women's competition comprising four teams has been added, bringing the total franchise count to 10. The league was established with the explicit goal of accelerating the growth and popularity of rugby sevens in India.
Rahul Bose Leads a Rugby Primer
Ahead of the ball unveiling, Rahul Bose conducted a rugby primer session alongside six boys and six girls from Telangana Rugby, spotlighting five fundamentals of the game: running forward while passing sideways or backwards; tackling to win possession; releasing the ball immediately after a tackle; using the kick as a tactical weapon to gain territory; and grounding the ball over the opposition's try line to score a try.
The session underlined the RPL's stated intent to use the league as a grassroots development vehicle, not merely a franchise spectacle.
What to Watch in Season 2
With the women's competition making its debut alongside the established men's draw, Season 2 represents the most ambitious edition of the RPL to date. All matches will be held at Gachibowli Stadium, with the league scheduled to commence on 16 June 2026. The expansion to 10 franchises and the inclusion of international captains from across the rugby world signal the league's growing global footprint.
Point of View
Sometimes decades, to introduce a parallel women's draw. The RPL doing it at Season 2 sets a structural precedent. The harder question is sustainability: international captains and global rosters signal ambition, but Indian rugby's domestic pipeline and broadcast reach remain thin. Rahul Bose's grassroots primer with Telangana schoolchildren is symbolic, but symbol and system are different things. Whether the RPL converts spectacle into sustained participation will determine if this is a genuine sport-development vehicle or an expensive showcase.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does Rugby Premier League Season 2 begin?
Rugby Premier League Season 2 begins on 16 June 2026 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. The official match ball was unveiled on 15 June at a ceremony attended by all 10 team captains.
What is new in RPL Season 2 compared to Season 1?
Season 2 introduces a women's competition comprising four franchises — Delhi Redz, Kolkata Banga Tigers, Chennai Bulls, and Mumbai Dreamers — bringing the total number of teams to 10, up from six in the debut season.
Who is the commissioner of the Rugby Premier League?
Rahul Bose, who is also the president of Rugby India, serves as the league commissioner of the Rugby Premier League. CMO Sujoy Ganguly also oversees the league's operations.
What is the Rugby Premier League and why is it significant?
The Rugby Premier League, founded in 2024, is the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league. It was created to accelerate the growth and popularity of rugby sevens in India, and its second season marks the first time a women's competition has been included.
Which teams are competing in RPL Season 2?
The men's competition features Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kolkata Banga Tigers, Chennai Bulls, Mumbai Dreamers, and Bengaluru Bravehearts. The women's competition includes Delhi Redz, Kolkata Banga Tigers, Chennai Bulls, and Mumbai Dreamers.
