Rugby Premier League: Hong Kong star backs franchise model to power rugby sevens
World Rugby has consistently meddled with international sevens, most recently chopping the number of elite series teams from 12 to eight for next season.
As some countries axe or reduce their full-time programmes, RPL provided a two-week platform for some of the planet's best players to perform and earn. The competition was inspired by cricket's Indian Premier League, which has spawned multiple T20 franchise tournaments around the world.
Hong Kong's Coverdale, whose Delhi Redz team lost Sunday's final to Chennai Bulls, said: 'I can see this as the way forward, and it being very beneficial for sevens, with another franchise league in the off-season, or around the World Series.
'The feedback from every player has been positive: everyone has been making friends and learning from each other.'
Michael Coverdale will be back playing for Hong Kong again in September. Photo: Elson Li
As finalists, Delhi played 12 16-minute matches in 14 days. 'The format is pretty brutal – towards the end of the tournament I was hanging on and struggling with fatigue,' Coverdale said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Cristiano Ronaldo match in Goa dubbed biggest in Indian club football history
Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to India to face FC Goa in an Asian Champions League Two match being hailed as 'historic' in the country. Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and their superstars were drawn on Friday against the Indian Super League (ISL) club in Group D of Asia's second-tier club competition, along with Istiklol of Tajikistan and Iraq's Al-Zawraa. The top two from each of the eight groups advance to the second round. 'This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa,' club CEO Ravi Puskur said. 'To host Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the biggest game in Indian club football history.' Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal with Jhon Duran. Photo: Reuters Ronaldo, 40, has yet to win a major trophy since signing for the Riyadh club in 2022, and the team are expected to be at full strength when the action starts in September. Al-Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, also boast famous names such as former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, the Portuguese forward who signed from Chelsea in July.
South China Morning Post
07-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
‘The dog mauled my passport': family pooch mars newcomer's All Blacks call-up
Rookie Leroy Carter was still coming to terms with his inclusion in the All Blacks squad to play in Argentina in the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship when he made the shocking discovery: 'The dog ate my passport.' The utility back with the Hamilton-based Chiefs was one of four uncapped players included in Scott Robertson's Championship squad. The phone call from Robertson telling him of his selection had come as a massive surprise. Carter was rushing to get things together for the squad's assembly and departure when he realised the family dog had intercepted his passport. 'I got my passport out to take a photo to send to the [team] manager and I just left it on my bedside table,' Carter said. 'My partner went to the gym and left my dog home alone and it's gone down the hallway, jumped on the bed and just chewed up the passport and my teeth aligners. 'It was a bit of a shambles yesterday. I was trying to get an emergency one but I think it's all sussed now. I never thought it would happen to me, something like that, so no point getting stressed about it.''
South China Morning Post
04-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong rugby star pledges to overcome shock of third knee injury
Rosie Wright has vowed to fight tooth and nail for her international rugby career, after 'excruciating' surgery to repair a third tear of her left anterior cruciate ligament. Advertisement Hong Kong sevens player Wright had been feeling 'better than ever' before she suffered the knee injury in April that has ruled her out of this year's National Games. 'My foot got stuck under the person tackling me, then somebody hit me from above, and my body and knee twisted,' said Wright, who had surgery at London's Fortius Clinic last week. After hoping she had sustained only a meniscus tear, Wright's 'heart sank' when scans revealed the true picture. 'My physio was with me … we couldn't speak,' she said. 'I felt disbelief and shock. The first two weeks were brutal.' The 28-year-old first tore her ACL in August 2023, shortly before Hong Kong's women claimed Asian Games bronze.
