Rugby Premier League: India's Bold Attempt to Conquer Hearts and Minds

The Rugby Premier League (RPL), India's latest attempt to put rugby on the map, has kicked off with a bang, featuring a lineup of international players and a star-studded league. However, the uncertainty surrounding the sport's popularity in India remains a pressing concern. As Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, emphasizes, a well-run league is crucial in compressing the timeline for rugby's success in India, which could take up to 50-75 years.

Key Takeaways:

• The Rugby Premier League (RPL) aims to make rugby one of the top five sports in India, with a goal of attracting fans and creating career opportunities for players.
• The league features 30 marquee international players across six teams, with coaches from abroad and an Indian captain in each team.
• Indian Rugby team captain Mohit Khatri is part of Bengaluru Bravehearts, while Mumbai Dreamers has an Indian captain.
• A survey conducted by a sports organization found that only 122 out of 1,000 people in India have played or watched rugby once in their life.
• Despite the doubt surrounding the league's popularity, Rahul Bose remains hopeful that a well-run league can compress the timeline for rugby's success in India.
• The league's initial attendance figures are around 200 spectators per day, with the Mumbai Football Arena, which has a capacity of 6,500, being used as the venue.

Statistics:

• Only 122 out of 1,000 people in India have played or watched rugby once in their life (Source: Survey by a sports organization).
• The Rugby Premier League (RPL) features 30 marquee international players across six teams.
• The Mumbai Football Arena, which is being used as the venue, has a capacity of 6,500 people.
• Initial attendance figures for the league's matches are around 200 spectators per day.

Sources:

• Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com (2025).
• Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India.