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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.
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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.
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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."
