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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."
The Age
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Sevens won't go into 15 for try-machine Levi ahead of World Cup
Australian sevens star Maddi Levi will not play for the Wallaroos at the World Cup later this year after the prolific try-scorer withdrew from selection consideration. On the day she named sevens converts Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds to make their starting debuts against New Zealand on Saturday, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp revealed Levi and other sevens stars, including Teagan Levi and Bella Nasser, had made themselves unavailable for the national 15-a-side team. Earlier in the year, nine sevens players elected to have a crack at making the Wallaroos' squad for August's World Cup, which entailed juggling a few games in Super Rugby Women with duties on the World Sevens Series. Caslick, Hinds and Bienne Terita then chose not to return to the sevens circuit to keep pushing for the World Cup. Maddi Levi didn't play for the Reds due to a hand injury, but given her standing as the world's best women's sevens player, the Wallaroos were still planning for her to be involved in Tests this month ahead of the World Cup. But Levi's manager, Mat Rogers, last month expressed reservation s about the switch, and suggested it would increase 'animosity' from the 15s players towards the sevens players. 'I just don't think it's an appropriate step to take now,' Rogers said on Stan Sport's Inside Line program. 'I'm speaking from Maddi's perspective purely out of care for her. I don't want her to be set up to fail, and I think that's what's happening if they pursue it further this year. 'I don't think she can [make the transition] in the time. She's not going to have enough game time. It's just unfair on her, and it's unfair on the squad to throw her in there and expect her to be a world-beater that she is in sevens. It's too much pressure.' Yapp revealed on Thursday that the Levi sisters, Nasser, Kahli Henwood and Sariah Paki, had elected to take a break after the sevens season. Demi Hayes is also out after suffering another knee injury.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sevens won't go into 15 for try-machine Levi ahead of World Cup
Australian sevens star Maddi Levi will not play for the Wallaroos at the World Cup later this year after the prolific try-scorer withdrew from selection consideration. On the day she named sevens converts Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds to make their starting debuts against New Zealand on Saturday, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp revealed Levi and other sevens stars, including Teagan Levi and Bella Nasser, had made themselves unavailable for the national 15-a-side team. Earlier in the year, nine sevens players elected to have a crack at making the Wallaroos' squad for August's World Cup, which entailed juggling a few games in Super Rugby Women with duties on the World Sevens Series. Caslick, Hinds and Bienne Terita then chose not to return to the sevens circuit to keep pushing for the World Cup. Maddi Levi didn't play for the Reds due to a hand injury, but given her standing as the world's best women's sevens player, the Wallaroos were still planning for her to be involved in Tests this month ahead of the World Cup. But Levi's manager, Mat Rogers, last month expressed reservation s about the switch, and suggested it would increase 'animosity' from the 15s players towards the sevens players. 'I just don't think it's an appropriate step to take now,' Rogers said on Stan Sport's Inside Line program. 'I'm speaking from Maddi's perspective purely out of care for her. I don't want her to be set up to fail, and I think that's what's happening if they pursue it further this year. 'I don't think she can [make the transition] in the time. She's not going to have enough game time. It's just unfair on her, and it's unfair on the squad to throw her in there and expect her to be a world-beater that she is in sevens. It's too much pressure.' Yapp revealed on Thursday that the Levi sisters, Nasser, Kahli Henwood and Sariah Paki, had elected to take a break after the sevens season. Demi Hayes is also out after suffering another knee injury.
France 24
05-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
South African men, New Zealand women win Rugby Sevens World Championships in LA
The Springbok Sevens defeated Spain 19-5 in the men's final while New Zealand's Black Ferns -- who had already claimed the sevens series title -- added to their trophy haul with a 31-7 victory over Australia in the women's final. The season-ending LA event was staged at Dignity Health Sports Park, which will host rugby sevens at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Black Ferns, the reigning Olympic champions, had sealed first place in the women's regular season standings with a victory at Singapore in April. Argentina -- which had clinched the men's World Sevens Series standings with victories in Perth, Vancouver and Hong Kong -- fell to Spain 29-5 in the semi-finals, where South Africa dispatched New Zealand 31-5. In the men's final, Selvyn Davids scored a try in the fifth minute and Ronald Brown converted to lift South Africa ahead 7-0 at half-time. Spain's Pol Pla answered with a try in the 10th minute but Juan Ramos missed the conversion kick to keep the Springboks ahead. Mfundo Ndhlovu answered with a try for South Africa and Tristan Leyds converted for a 14-5 lead. South Africa's Zander Reynders received a yellow card but Ricardo Duartee added a try in the final minute to complete the triumph. In the women's final, Jorja Miller scored in the second minute for New Zealand and Michaela Brake added another try in the sixth, Risi Pouri-Lane's conversion making it 12-0 at half-time for the Black Ferns. Mackenzie Davis answered with her sixth try of the event for Australia in the eighth minute and Ruby Nicholas added the conversion, but the Kiwis answered on Pouri-Lane's try and conversion in the 10th minute for a 19-7 edge. Mahina Paul added a try in the 11th minute for the Black Ferns with Pouri-Lane converting and Sarah Hirini added a try in the 13th minute to create the final margin. In the women's semi-finals, Australia routed Canada 33-7 and New Zealand ousted the United States 34-7.
Otago Daily Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Black Ferns Sevens win World Series title
Jorja Miller scored one of the Black Ferns Sevens tries as the won the World Sevens Series championship in Los Angeles. The Black Ferns Sevens have been crowned World Series champions after crushing Australia 31-7 in the final of the winner-takes-all season ending tournament in Los Angeles. New Zealand, who led 12-0 at halftime, have now won four straight matches against Australia since the final of the Perth event. Jorja Miller, Michaela Brake, Risi Pouri-Lane, Mahina Paul and Sarah Hirini were the try-scorers for the champions. The Black Ferns Sevens had already wrapped up the overall league title after winning four of the six previous rounds, including the most recent in Singapore. New Zealand won the Cape Town, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore rounds. The top eight men's and women's teams in the standings after the Singapore event then qualified for the Los Angeles season finale. Olympic champions New Zealand beat hosts the United States 34-7 in the semifinals. Michaela Brake scored a hat-trick of tries for the Black Ferns Sevens against the US with Jorja Miller, Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Sarah Hirini the other players to dot down. The Black Ferns Sevens had already wrapped up the overall league title after winning four of the six previous World Series events, including the last three in a row before Los Angeles. New Zealand won the Cape Town, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore rounds. The All Blacks Sevens were beaten 31-5 by South Africa in the men's semifinals and eventually finished third after overcoming Argentina 38-17 in the bronze medal playoff. It's the New Zealand men's first podium finish this World Series season. South Africa will play Spain in the men's final.
