Indian rugby star Sumit Roy Kumar has described his status as the highest-priced player in the Rugby Premier League (RPL) Season 2 auction as a reward for years of dedication, not a source of pressure — as the world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league prepares for its second edition starting 16 June.

RPL Season 2: What's New This Year

The Rugby Premier League, which made its debut in 2025 with six city-based franchises, has expanded significantly for its second season. A landmark addition is the launch of a women's edition featuring four teams, marking a major step in the league's ambition to broaden the sport's footprint in India.

Hyderabad Heroes, who claimed the bronze medal in the inaugural season after an unbeaten run through the league stage, head into Season 2 with a bolstered squad. The franchise retained Spanish star Manuel Moreno and Kenyan international Kevin Wekesa, while also bringing back key members of last year's core group, including Sumit.

Sumit on His Auction Price and Personal Motivation

The former India captain emerged as the most sought-after name at the RPL Season 2 auction. Far from feeling burdened by the tag, Sumit said it reinforces his drive. 'Yes, I see it as a recognition of my years of hard work, because I feel that I am here because I have done so much hard work, so I don't feel any pressure for it. Yes, I get motivation from myself, because the hard work I have done is a motivation for me,' he said.

Sumit has captained India's Under-20 side at the Asia Rugby Sevens Championship and gone on to represent the senior national team, steadily establishing himself as one of the leading faces of Indian rugby. On leadership, he credited lessons drawn from former captains. 'I have learned a lot from my previous captain of the under-20s, how to lead a team, because a team is a team spirit, a team game... there is no such thing that there is no solution to the problem, there is a solution to every problem,' he said.

Bridging Cultures in the Hyderabad Dressing Room

With players from Spain, Kenya, and multiple other rugby-playing nations in the Hyderabad Heroes squad, Sumit said communication and camaraderie have been central to building cohesion. 'There are players from different countries here... it takes a little time to make a connection with them, but they are such players that it does not seem that they are playing with them for the first time after so many days, it seems that they have been playing with them for many years,' he noted.

He added that the international players' adaptability has made integration smoother. 'Talking to them, they observe us very quickly, they understand us, so it becomes easy for me to communicate with them,' he said.

India's Progress and the Road Ahead

Sumit was part of the Indian squad that secured a historic silver medal at the CASA 7s earlier this year — one of the clearest signals yet of the national team's upward trajectory. He acknowledged that while progress has been real, consistent exposure to top-tier opposition remains the priority. 'We do hard work, but we still have to play more tournaments, play with experienced players... we will meet good teams there, like Hong Kong, Japan, so our progress is still continuing,' he said.

The 24-year-old also pointed to the RPL as a critical accelerator for Indian players. 'We have to learn from the legends who have come from abroad, what to do, how to do it, we have to take experience, so this will bring some changes in our Indian team,' he stated.

On rugby administrator and actor Rahul Bose's influence on the sport, Sumit was emphatic. 'I have learned from him that you should never give up, he has never given up, so we are here because of him... he trusted himself, he worked very hard for us, so just believe in yourself,' he said.

As Hyderabad Heroes launch their Season 2 title challenge, Sumit's sights are set on a larger goal — cementing India's place among Asia's and eventually the world's top rugby nations.