Patrick Odongo set to compete in Rugby India’s groundbreaking Rugby Premier League
Kenya rugby sevens star Patrick Odongo has been drafted into the inaugural Rugby Premier League, set to take place in India from June 1 to June 15. The tournament, which features a mix of international rugby greats and India’s best, promises to redefine the future of rugby sevens.
Kenya rugby sevens star Patrick Odongo has been drafted to feature in the Rugby Premier League (RPL), a groundbreaking competition conceived by Rugby India. The tournament will take place in India from June 1 to June 15.
Hyped as having the potential to redefine the future of rugby sevens, the Rugby Premier League (RPL) is the world’s first franchise-based rugby sevens league, with HSBC SVNS Series stars set to take part, as reported by Rugbypass.
Odongo, who has scored the most tries (18) for Kenya in this season’s HSBC SVNS competition, is among 30 marquee international rugby stars drafted to feature in the tournament, which will consist of 34 matches.
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Other notable players include SVNS Series legends Perry Baker of the USA, South Africa’s Rosko Specman, and New Zealand’s Scott Curry, who are coming out of retirement to join current stars like Argentina's Luciano Gonzalez and New Zealand's Akuila Rokolisoa.
The tournament will be held at the Mumbai Football Arena and will feature six teams, each representing one of India’s major cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar.
The six competing teams are: Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers and Mumbai Dreamers.
Rugby India is organising the tournament with the support of World Rugby. The RPL aims to fill a gap in the global rugby sevens calendar and ensure that the world’s best players can compete alongside India’s finest rugby talent.
“This is a league that’s been six years in the making, but we wanted to do everything right. The first extraordinary development came thanks to World Rugby, who gave a 15-day window in which no international rugby sevens would be played anywhere in the world,” said Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India.
Additionally, 18 players from Germany, Hong Kong, China, and Canada will be drafted into one of the six teams. Thirty Indian players will also be chosen from an auction pool of 71, adding to the historic nature of the tournament.
“The Rugby Premier League marks a pivotal moment in our mission to elevate rugby in India,” explained Satyam Trivedi, CEO of GMR Sports. “By showcasing a vibrant mix of international and Indian talent, and with the unwavering support of our franchise owners, this league is poised to redefine the future of the sport.”
Six high-profile rugby sevens coaches have also been drafted to lead the six teams in the tournament. The coaches include American Mike Friday, Englishman Ben Gollings, Spaniard Paco Hernandez, Australian Tim Walsh, and New Zealanders DJ Forbes and Tomasi Cama.
The full list of the 30 marquee international players drafted to compete in the Rugby Premier League tournament:
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Patrick Odongo – Kenya – Represented Kenya at the Paris Olympics
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Perry Baker – USA – 2X World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, 3X Olympian
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Rosko Specman – South Africa – 2X Olympian, 2X Bronze Medalist
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Harry McNulty – Ireland – 2X Olympian, 2X Rugby World Cup Medalist
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Terry Kennedy – Ireland – World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2022, World Series Top Try Scorer 2022 and 2024
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Jordan Conroy – Ireland – 2X Olympian, World Rugby Sevens Series and RWC7s Medalist
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Alex Davis – Great Britain – England Sevens, Olympian
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Lucas Lacamp – USA – Olympian
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Tone Ng Shiu – New Zealand – Olympian, 2019 NZ Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Bronze Medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
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Aaron Cummings – USA – Olympian
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Scott Curry – New Zealand – 4X New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year, 3X Commonwealth Games Medalist, Silver Medalist at the 2021 Olympics, 6X World Rugby Sevens Series Champion, and RWC7s Gold Medalist
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Luciano Gonzalez – Argentina – Bronze Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champion 2023, HSBC World Sevens Dream Team
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Santiago Mare – Argentina – Bronze Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champion 2023
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Joaquim Pellandini – Argentina – Bronze Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champion 2023
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Matteo Grazziano – Argentina – Bronze Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champion 2023
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Mattias Osadczuk – Argentina – Bronze Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champion 2023, HSBC World Sevens Dream Team
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Akuila Rokolisoa – New Zealand – Olympian, Gold Medalist at RWC7s 2018, Bronze Medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
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Alejandro Laforga – Spain – Olympian, Active Player on the Spanish National Sevens Team, Spain World Ranking #2
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Pol Pla – Spain – Olympian, Active Player on the Spanish National Sevens Team, Spain World Ranking #2
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Manuel Moreno – Spain – Olympian, Active Player on the Spanish National Sevens Team, Spain World Ranking #2
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Joseva Talacolo – Fiji – Oceania Games Champion 2021, Commonwealth Games Silver 2022, RWC Gold 2022, 2024 Olympic Silver
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Iowane Teba – Fiji – 2024 Olympic Silver, World Series Dubai, Singapore, and Toulouse Gold
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Terio Veilawai – Fiji – 2024 Olympic Silver, World Series Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong Gold
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Filipe Sauturaga – Fiji – 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver, 2024 Olympic Silver, RWC Gold
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Joji Nasova – Fiji – 2024 Olympic Silver, Dubai Sevens Gold
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Regan Ware – New Zealand – Olympian, Bronze Medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Silver Medalist at RWC7s
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Waisea Nacuqu – Fiji – 2020 Olympic Gold, 2024 Olympic Silver, World Series Gold 2018 & 2019, 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver, RWC Gold
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Henry Hutchison – Australia – 3X Olympian, 2015 World Rugby Rookie of the Year
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Maurice Longbottom – Australia – 2X Olympian
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James Turner – Australia – Olympian
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