Perry Baker among the stars in world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league in India
The world's first franchise-based rugby sevens league, the Rugby Premier League (RPL), will get under way in Mumbai in June, organisers Rugby India and GMR Sports said on Friday.
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A dedicated window on the global rugby sevens calendar for the RPL has ensured the participation of some of the world's leading players alongside Indian talent.
The six teams are Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers and the Mumbai Dreamers, with 34 matches to be played over 15 days.
'World Rugby … gave us a 15-day window in which no international rugby sevens would be played anywhere in the world,' said Rahul Bose, president of Rugby India.
'This made the best global rugby players available to us.'
The tournament will welcome 30 marquee international players from the leading rugby sevens nations, including Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Fiji, USA and Ireland.
Ireland's former World Rugby 7s Player of the Year Terry Kennedy will also take part. Photo: Eugene Lee
Three-time Olympian Perry Baker of the United States, New Zealand's 2021 Olympic silver medallist Scott Curry and Ireland's former World Rugby 7s Player of the Year Terry Kennedy are among the players who will feature in the RPL.
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