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Time of India
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
First rugby franchise league in India features grassroots talent
Almost every Saturday since he was 10, Akash Balmiki would bunk school to chase a ball that looked like a dinosaur egg. "My parents were mad at me," he recalls. Balmiki discovered rugby in 2007 when a friend introduced him to Khelo Rugby, a free training camp for underprivileged kids. "But when I told my parents I wanted to play seriously, they didn't stop me," grins the player who went on to represent India and even play for the Dallas Harlequins, a respected American rugby club. "My parents don't watch me play. They don't understand the game," he shrugs. Balmiki's father works as a sweeper and his mother is a homemmaker. "But it makes them happy to see me on TV," says the 27-year-old captain of Mumbai Dreamers, one of six franchise teams in India's inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL). Organised for the first time in India at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Kreeda Sankul (Andheri Sports Complex), the goal of this Rugby Sevens tournament—which culminates in its final match today—isn't just entertainment but transformation. The aim is to elevate the profile of rugby in India, inspire the next generation of players, and create a festival-like atmosphere for fans, says actor Rahul Bose, president of Rugby India, which has spearheaded the event. RPL features six teams with Indian and international players. Bose, a former national-level rugby player himself, ensured that it started right: six world-class coaches were signed on even before approaching marquee players. A player draft followed. "Each coach picked five international players and the teams took turns drafting them," he says. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Among the marquee internationals are Perry Baker (USA, two-time World Rugby 7s Player of the Year), Scott Curry (New Zealand, six-time World Sevens Series champion), and Terry Kennedy (Ireland, World Rugby 7s Player of the Year 2022). Indian players went through a competitive auction: 71 were up for selection, 30 made the cut. "We thought the Indian players might be behind. They're not," says Bose, calling the sons of farmers, labourers and tribal families the heroes of the RPL. "These stories are the spine of the league." Arjun Mahato—now a Back for Kalinga Tigers—was lured into rugby by Balmiki with the promise: "You'll get to eat while you train." The 'weird' rules confused him at first ("You can't pass forward but you can kick forward"), but he stuck around. He went on to play at the U-14 and U-18 national levels and now helps translate move names like "hammer" into Hindi for his teammates. Paco Hernández, head coach of the Bengaluru Bravehearts and a former captain of Spain's national sevens team, says coaching Indian players has been "deeply moving." He singles out Mohit Khatri, a "fast, strong, natural leader," as one of the best Indian players he's seen. From the Mumbai Dreamers camp, Australian rugby star Henry "Rapchik" Hutchison—who has spent over a decade on the global rugby sevens circuit—is equally impressed. "The quality is much higher than expected. There's enough talent here to create a really good rugby environment going forward." He admits the experience has been humbling. "A hard day for them is not the same as a hard day for us. Seeing them smile and be stoked to be here—it's inspiring. " But beyond the players, the venue also played a key role in shaping the RPL experience. To raise rugby's profile, venue choice was key. Andheri Sports Complex was picked for its pristine grass and lack of an athletics track. "Tracks push fans 30 metres away, which kills energy," explains Bose. "This field lets the game breathe." It was the lure of a stadium as big as this one that pulled Sambit Pradhan—a Forward for Hyderabad Heroes—into the game. Pradhan grew up on his family's farm in Adaspur village in Cuttack, Odisha. "One of my seniors said I'd get to play in a stadium," he recalls. "That was a big deal. I'd never been in one." He joined the Bhubaneswar Rugby Club, played for the state, and then lost three years to a hand injury. During his recovery, he worked part-time as a school sports teacher before easing back into the sport. Now part of Hyderabad Heroes, Pradhan is still surprised to be playing alongside international players and Indian stars. "All the players I'm playing with have represented India. I've only seen them on TV." Language remains a barrier. "My English isn't great. They speak fast. But we're all fluent in rugby," Pradhan adds with a grin. From Kenyan teammate Kevin Wekesa, he picked up skills like catching and lifting. From Spanish player Manuel 'Manu' Moreno, he learned how to handle pressure. "When we lost to Bengaluru Bravehearts, we were low. Our captain just ordered burgers and asked us to focus on the next match." Despite being played in 322 of India's 760 districts, rugby is still confused with American football, says Bose. He dreams big. "We want India to compete at the Olympics by 2032 or 2036. Our women are ranked 10th in Asia, the men 15th. We believe we can break into the top two in the next seven to 11 years."
India Gazette
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
RPL: Chennai Bulls, Bengaluru Bravehearts register win; Kaling Black Tigers salvage impressive tie against Mumbai Dreamers
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 23 (ANI): The Chennai Bulls are back at the top of the points table, and the Hyderabad Heroes' juggernaut was brought to a halt by the dynamic Bengaluru Bravehearts. In the second game of the day, the Mumbai Dreamers, who had an impressive lead at one stage, squandered their position and had to share the spoils with the Kalinga Black Tigers, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex, on Sunday evening, during Season 1 of the GMR Rugby Premier League, according to a release from RPL. In the first game of the day, the Bengaluru Bravehearts brought the Hyderabad Heroes' winning streak to a halt, defeating them 26-21. The Bengaluru Bravehearts hit the ground running, and how. International stars Akuila Rokolisoa and Philip Wokorach combined well. While Rokolisoa added a try and a conversion, Wokorach scored a try, giving the Bravehearts a 12-0 lead. For the Heroes, Wolfram Hacker responded with a try, and Manuel Moreno also converted his kick. However, before the half-time break, Iowane Teba's try and Rokolisoa's kick further extended the Bravehearts' lead. The Heroes, who began the day at the top of the points table, stormed back into the contest with a flurry of points, courtesy Terio Tamani, who bagged two tries and one conversion. With four minutes left, the Heroes led 21-19. The Bravehearts though weren't giving up, and Pol Pla added five points to the mix, whilst Rokolisoa added two more, turn the contest on its head. That though was enough on the night for the Bravehearts, who snatched a crucial win. Game two saw the Chennai Bulls jump back to the top of the points table after a comprehensive 24-7 win against the Delhi Redz. The Delhi Redz, who have had a recent uptick in their fortunes, started off the game in solid fashion. Strong and compact in defensive set-ups, and robust in attack, the Redz picked up the early lead through Matteo Graziano's try and Matias Osadczuk's corresponding conversion. However, the Bulls began to show glimpses of their old form again, as Vaafauese Maliko scored a couple of tries, to put his side in a slender 3-point lead at the half-time break. After the break, the Bulls decided to go through the gears, and Maliko completed a hat-trick of tries. Filipe Sauturaga backed him up with clinical conversion, to give the Bulls a 10-point lead. Haakon Oess then added five more to the tally, and had Sauturaga scoring his conversion too, which helped the Bulls register a big win and return to the top of the points table. In the final game on Sunday, the Kalinga Black Tigers came from behind to clinch a 17-17 draw. The result gives the Mumbai Dreamers their first points of the season. The Kalinga Black Tigers had the better of the early exchanges on the night, as Asis Sabar scored a try and put them in the lead. However, the Mumbai Dreamers, who were still looking for their first points in the season, first equalised through Elias Hancock's try, and then Waisea Nacuqu made the conversion count. The two sides broke for half-time, with two points separating them. Vuiviawa Naduvalo and Henry Hutchison scored two brilliant tries for the Dreamers in the next quarter, which extended their lead to a 12-point one. The Tigers had their task cut out, and they responded with a try and conversion from Ethan Turner. In the final minutes, Perry Baker equalised with a try for the Tigers, who snatched a tie from the jaws of defeat. (ANI)
India Gazette
19-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
RPL 2025: Bengaluru Bravehearts take on Mumbai Dreamers, Kalinga Black Tigers face unbeaten Hyderabad Heroes challenge on Day 5
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 19 (ANI): On matchday five of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), the first match of the evening will feature the Bengaluru Bravehearts taking on the Mumbai Dreamers. With a win and a draw in three games, the Bravehearts will be eyeing a second win to close the gap with the top two, while the Dreamers are still searching for their first victory of the season. In the second fixture, the Kalinga Black Tigers go up against the Hyderabad Heroes. With the Heroes unbeaten, the pressure will be on the Black Tigers to step up and register points, who did well in their last game by drawing against table leaders Chennai Bulls. Top 5 Players to watch out for today at the Rugby Premier League: Akuila Rokolisoa (Bengaluru Bravehearts) With 25 points in three games, Akuila Rokolisoa is the second-highest points scorer in the league so far and is in an incredible vein of form. He has scored three tries and five conversions so far and is an explosive player in the Bravehearts setup. Since he plays at the back, Akuila also makes good defensive contributions for his side and has made four crucial tackles in the three matches played. Kevin Wekesa (Hyderabad Heroes) The Heroes have won two out of their two games and much credit goes to their attackers. Kevin Wekesa who plays forward, has scored three successful tries and has already won 15 points for his side in just two games. The 24-year-old Kenyan is one to watch out for as they play the Black Tigers in their third game of the season. Philip Wokorach (Bengaluru Bravehearts) The 31-year-old experienced player from Uganda, Philip Wokorach is not just a leading figure on the pitch but also a prolific scorer for the Bravehearts. Playing at the back, he has made four tackles so far, but he has made headlines due to his attacking contributions as well. Philip has scored three tries and won 17 points for his side so far in their three games played. Joji Nasova (Hyderabad Heroes) Similar to his teammate Kevin, Joji Nasova has also managed to make three tries and score 15 points in the two games the Heroes have played so far in the tournament. Joji also has an assist and two tackles to his name and is an all-round player in the ranks of the Heroes. James Turner (Mumbai Dreamers) With no wins so far, Mumbai Dreamers are struggling to register points on the board, however their marquee Australian, James Turner has had a good run of games so far. In three matches, James has scored two tries and hence won ten points for his side. He has also made five tackles for the Dreamers and will be hoping to push himself more and help his side win their first game of the season. Schedule for RPL Matches on Thursday, June 19: Match 1 - Bengaluru Bravehearts vs Mumbai Dreamers - 7:45 PM IST Match 2 - Kalinga Black Tigers vs Hyderabad Heroes - 8:25 PM IST. (ANI)
Hans India
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
RPL Season 1: Chennai Bulls' Terry Kennedy talks about their first win, his experience in India
Mumbai: Chennai Bulls were in fine form on Day One of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), opening their campaign with a dominant 24-5 victory against Mumbai Dreamers, and their marquee player, Terry Kennedy, said they have to build on the good start. Kennedy played a pivotal role and bagged the Player of the Match award for his clinical performance, helping his side secure a resounding win at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex) on Sunday. Reflecting on the Chennai Bulls' first outing, Kennedy said, 'It felt like a tough game out there. I think a couple of small things go either way and then it becomes a different game.' He further elaborated on how the team has been working on building connections for the last couple of weeks. 'We've spoken a lot over the last couple of weeks about building a connection since it's such a short window for us. So, it's about the connection and then the effort we put in on the pitch. That will get us a long way over a couple of weeks, and I think we showed that in the first game, which was great to see, but it's a long tournament. It's a good start, but we want to build on it', he added. Kennedy, who was the World Rugby Sevens Men's Player of the Year in 2022, shared his experience of playing in India for the first time. 'It's amazing. Between the pitch, the atmosphere, the music, the lights, and everything, it's really set up to allow us to entertain on the field and enjoy it. I think it helps rugby grow. Hopefully, we put on a good show over these couple of weeks, and as it grows over the years. I think it will be phenomenal to see where this will go,' he added. Talking about the weather conditions and how that affects the foreign players, Kennedy added, 'The pitch is spectacular, it's in an amazing condition - as good as we could have hoped. But yeah, it's humid, it's a little bit wet. So, it means you probably see more dropped balls, or you have to look after the ball a little bit more. I think we did that quite well, so we were happy with that.' Interestingly, the two teams will clash again in just over 24 hours on Monday, with Mumbai Dreamers getting an opportunity to avenge their defeat in the first encounter. They will be meeting in the second match of the day with Mumbai Dreamers, aiming to open their account. After a one-sided contest in the first game between the two sides, the onus will be on Tim Walsh's team to hit the ground running as they look to establish themselves in the tournament. Meanwhile, after a hard-fought encounter against the Hyderabad Heroes, the Kalinga Black Tigers will be looking to bounce back with a win when they face the Delhi Redz in Monday's first match of the day on Monday. Led by captain Harry McNulty, Kalinga Black Tigers will be looking to register their first win when they face Matias Osadczuk's side, who will be looking for their first win after their first match against Bengaluru Bravehearts ended in a stalemate.
India Gazette
16-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Chennai Bulls' marquee player Terry Kennedy opens up about RPL and his experience in India
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 16 (ANI): Chennai Bulls were in fine form on day one of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), opening their campaign with a dominant 24-5 victory against Mumbai Dreamers on Sunday evening, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex). Marquee player Terry Kennedy played a pivotal role and bagged the Player of the Match award for his clinical performance, helping his side secure a resounding win. Reflecting on the Chennai Bulls' first outing, Kennedy said, as quoted by the RPL press release, 'It felt like a tough game out there. I think a couple of small things go either way, and then it becomes a different game.' He further elaborated on how the team has been working on building connections for the last couple of weeks. 'We've spoken a lot over the last couple of weeks about building a connection since it's such a short window for us. So, it's about the connection and then the effort we put in on the pitch. That will get us a long way over the couple of weeks and I think we showed that in the first game which was great to see, but it's a long tournament. It's a good start, but we want to build on it', he added. The World Rugby Men's Sevens Player of the Year in 2022, Kennedy also shared his experience of playing in India for the first time. He said, 'It's amazing. Between the pitch, the atmosphere, the music, the lights, and everything, it's really set up to allow us to entertain on the field and enjoy it. I think it helps rugby grow. Hopefully, we put on a good show over these couple of weeks, and as it grows over the years, I think it will be phenomenal to see where this will go.' Talking about the weather conditions and how it affects the foreign players, Kennedy added, 'The pitch is spectacular, it's in an amazing condition - as good as we could have hoped. But yeah, it's humid, it's a little bit wet. So, it means you probably see more drop balls, or you have to look after the ball a little bit more. I think we did that quite well, so we were happy with that.' After a hard-fought encounter against the Hyderabad Heroes, the Kalinga Black Tigers will be looking to bounce back with a win when they face the Delhi Redz. Led by captain Harry Mcnulty, they will be looking to register their first win when they face Matias Osadczuk's side, who will be looking for their first win after their first match against Bengaluru Bravehearts ended in a stalemate. The second contest of the day will see the Mumbai Dreamers aiming to open their account when they take on the Chennai Bulls. After a one-sided contest in the first game between the two sides, the onus will be on Tim Walsh's team to hit the ground running as they look to establish themselves in the tournament. (ANI)
