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India Gazette
a day ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
"We'll be prepared for major tournaments": Deepak Kumar Punia thanks RPL
By Diptayan Hazra Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27 (ANI): Deepak Kumar Punia, a rising star in Indian rugby, hails from Kanoi village in Hisar, Haryana. He made his mark by captaining the Haryana men's rugby sevens team to multiple national titles, including a gold medal at the National Games. In April 2024, his leadership journey reached a new milestone when he was appointed captain of India's men's 15s team for the Asia Rugby Division 1 Championship in Sri Lanka. A natural leader, Punia had earlier served as vice-captain of the national rugby sevens team. Having overcome early challenges in his career, he established himself as a key figure in both the sevens and fifteens formats. Under his captaincy, the Indian 15s side faced off against Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Kazakhstan, a pivotal campaign in India's steady progress toward joining Asia's rugby elite. Punia believes the launch of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) has the potential to revolutionize the sport in India. 'Right now, I believe the RPL might bring a real change,' he said. 'The number of players is increasing, and current Indian players are receiving massive support through the league. We're getting valuable exposure and experience by sharing the field with some of the world's best athletes, top rugby players who are the best in the world,' he added. This level of competition, he feels, has been eye-opening not just in terms of performance, but also in understanding professionalism. 'We're learning what needs to be done both on and off the field. Thanks to the RPL, we'll be much better prepared for major tournaments like the Asia Trophy and Asia Championship in the future,' he noted. Currently representing Delhi Redz in the RPL, Punia finds himself at home. 'I live in Delhi, so it feels great to play for the Delhi Redz. We have players from different states and countries, and now we all got together so we all are playing in this RPL as a team and we have a very good communication with each other and we are having a lot of fun playing together,' Deepak said. Despite the recent momentum, Punia acknowledges that Indian rugby still has a long way to go. He is a firm advocate for prioritizing grassroots structures, especially club-level competitions. 'Clubs are where rugby players are made,' he said. 'More importance must be given to club tournaments and alongside that, the Indian team needs to get more exposure by playing tournaments abroad. The more matches we play, the more experience we gain, and that's how our game will develop,' he added. Punia is also passionate about breaking stereotypes associated with rugby and encouraging youth, especially from smaller towns and villages, to take up the sport. 'Rugby in India is still growing, and it welcomes every skilled person,' he explained. 'Any height, any body shape, there's a position for you in rugby. You don't have to be tall or bulky to play, no matter what your body shape is, you can adjust in rugby,' he added. He pointed out that many young players who've competed at the national and international levels have already secured stable government jobs, making rugby not just a passion but a viable career path. 'Playing nationally and internationally, a lot of kids have got government jobs. So, in the future, you can also say that by playing rugby, you can also set your life. So, in the future, there is a lot in rugby,' he noted. As a fly-half, Punia plays one of the most crucial leadership roles on the pitch. His experience captaining both sevens and fifteens teams has taught him the value of communication, discipline, and preparation. 'Leadership is about keeping the team together, building strong communication, and making sure we're all aligned in what we need to do, and what we can do better as a team and what we have to do in the upcoming matches and tournaments and how we can prepare for games off the field. So, that comes in leadership,' Deepak said. 'These are things maybe I've learned from my senior players, and now I try to pass them on to my teammates,' he added. Punia's introduction to rugby was unplanned, but life-changing. Originally drawn to cricket, he began his sporting journey with his elder brother at an academy in Delhi after moving from Hisar. 'One day it rained, and we couldn't play cricket,' he recalled. 'So, our cricket coach got us to do some fun activities with a tennis ball like agility drill. So, from there he suggested I try rugby. He told me it was a growing sport and that I might do well,' he said. That one suggestion led Punia to the Delhi Hurricanes Rugby Club, and from there, his rugby career was born. 'So, he got me admitted to Delhi Hurricanes Rugby Club. So, my rugby started from there,' he noted. (ANI)
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Bengaluru Bravehearts Become Third Team to Make Rugby Premier League Semi-Finals
The Bengaluru Bravehearts became the third team to progress to the semi-final of Season 1 of GMR Rugby Premier League. The Bravehearts achieved this after they defeated the Kalinga Black Tigers by a margin of 34-26. In the second game of the day, the Delhi Redz and the Mumbai Dreamers played out a thrilling draw, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex in Mumbai. With qualification on the line for the Bengaluru Bravehearts, the Kalinga Black Tigers were looking to create hurdles. And on cue, the Tigers took the lead when Ethan Turner bagged a try and Maurice Longbottom converted with ease. The Tigers further extended their lead with Lucas Lacamp's try and Turner's conversion. However, before the end of the first half, the Bravehearts started to mount a comeback with Philip Wokorach and Arpan Chhetri's tries. At the break the Tigers led by 4 points. After that, the Bravehearts' Liam Poulton turned up the ante with a couple of tries, to give his side the lead. The game was well contested, and the Tigers responded well and almost immediately with Ethan Turner's try. And going into the last phase, the Bravehearts led by 1 point. The Bravehearts put the foot on the pedal in the final quarter with Philip Wokorach adding a try and converting, along with Iowane Teba's try and conversion, which gave them some breathing space. The Tigers though were not giving up and Perry Baker added five more to the cause, whilst Maurice Longbottom also scored his conversion kick. But it was too little too late. In the second game of the day, the Mumbai Dreamers came from behind to salvage a draw against the Delhi Redz. Both teams were locked at 19-19 at the final whistle. James Turner put the Dreamers in the lead before Patrick Okongo and Alejandro Laforga combined to add 7 points for the Redz. From then on in, the Delhi Redz were dominant, with Laforga and Deepak Punia scoring tries, and the latter converting his kick too. The Redz looked set for the win, however, the Dreamers fought back in the final quarter with James Turner scoring a try and converting his kick. Vuiviwa Naduvalo rounded off the evening with his game-changing try, which helped the Dreamers rescue a draw with the scores reading 19-19.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
RPL: Hyderabad Heroes return to top of points table after dominating Chennai Bulls
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 23 (ANI): The Hyderabad Heroes produced a scintillating display of rugby, as they went back to the top of the points table, after swatting aside the challenge of the Chennai Bulls by a scoreline of 28-7, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), during Season 1 of the Rugby Premier League. In the other game on the day, the Delhi Redz won handsomely against the Bengaluru Bravehearts. In the second game of the day, the Hyderabad Heroes were in fine form, and dominated the Chennai Bulls, winning 28-7. The Chennai Bulls were out of the blocks at good speed, and took the lead when Terry Kennedy scored a try, and Joaquin Pellandini added two more to the cause. However, after that, the Hyderabad Heroes cranked up the style - Javed Hussain and Motu Opetai scored a try each, and Manuel Moreno converted on both occasions. At the half-time break, the Hyderabad Heroes led 14-7. Wolfram Hacker and Terio Tamani added a try each in the final quarter, and Tamani converted both his kicks as well, giving the Hyderabad Heroes a clinical win on the night. The win will see the Heroes move up to the top spot on the points table. In the first game of the day, the Delhi Redz registered their third win of the tournament after they defeated the Bengaluru Bravehearts with a scoreline of 22-12. The Delhi Redz were calling the shots in the game early on, and scored important points to surge into the lead. Matteo Graziano and Rajdeep Saha scored a try each, before Iowane Teba brought the Bengaluru Bravehearts right back into it with 7 points of his own. Minutes after the half-time break, Pol Pla finished off fantastic move, which Philip Wokorach had started, with a try, to give the Bravehearts a slender lead. The Delhi Redz though weren't giving in, as Sunil Chawan got on the scoresheet, and Matias Osadczuk converted his kick. After that, the Redz further extended the lead when Moritz Noll added five points to the cause. Eventually, the Redz walked off with a solid win. (ANI)
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
RPL: Dominant Delhi Redz return to winning ways against Bengaluru Bravehearts
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 23 (ANI): The Delhi Redz have registered their third win of the tournament, after they defeated the Bengaluru Bravehearts with a scoreline of 22-12, here at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), during Season 1 of the Rugby Premier League, in Mumbai, on Monday evening. The Delhi Redz were calling the shots in the game early on and scored important points to surge into the lead. Matteo Graziano and Rajdeep Saha scored a try each, before Iowane Teba brought the Bengaluru Bravehearts right back into it with 7 points of his own. Minutes after the half-time break, Pol Pla finished off a fantastic move, which Philip Wokorach had started, with a try, to give the Bravehearts a slender lead. The Delhi Redz, though, weren't giving in, as Sunil Chawan got on the scoresheet, and Matias Osadczuk converted his kick. After that, the Redz further extended the lead when Moritz Noll added five points to the cause. Eventually, the Redz walked off with a solid win. Earlier in the tournament, the Delhi Redz faced the Mumbai Dreamers. It was the Dreamers who began strongly as James Turner scored a try, and Akash Balmiki converted after that. From then on, the Dreamers did well to hold onto the lead till half-time. After the break, though, the Delhi Redz stormed back into the contest. Alejandro Laforga scored a try first, while Jordan Conroy added two more. Deepak Punia's conversion with the final move of the game complemented it. Deepak Punia also scored a dropkick, which helped his side register a comprehensive 20-7 win. Redz had to wait for their first win of the tournament, especially after facing Chennai Bulls, who were dominant and demolished them by a scoreline of 21-7. For the Bulls, the duo of Vaafauese Maliko and Joaquin Pellandini led the charge with impressive individual performances. (ANI)
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Rugby Premier League: Hong Kong sevens ace stunned to be recognised in India
This month's Rugby Premier League in India is a welcome boost for sevens in troubled times, according to Hong Kong's Michael Coverdale, who said playing for Delhi Redz was also revealing the secrets to the All Blacks' success. Having made his Redz debut last week, Coverdale hailed the chance to test himself alongside world-class performers in the inaugural edition, a six-franchise, two-week tournament played over four-minute quarters at the 7,000-capacity Mumbai Football Arena. As the event set out to fuel a rugby boom in India, Coverdale was surprised to discover that players there knew all about him. The Redz were fourth after five of their 10 pool matches, with the top four reaching next Saturday's semi-finals before the final next Sunday. Organisers Rugby India and GMR Sports have committed to staging the RPL for at least 10 years, and Coverdale hopes to remain part of it. 'There's a lot of negativity around the state of the game,' Coverdale said, noting Ireland's closure of its sevens programme, and World Rugby cutting its elite series from 12 teams to eight – reducing Hong Kong's hopes of promotion. 'But [the RPL] is a great advert for sevens. It's a cool concept … something unique. I think it will bring more eyes to the product and give guys more opportunities.
