In the inaugural press conference of Rugby Premier League, Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India) opened up on the future of Rugby in India. Bose has set a goal for the Indian Women’s Sevens team to qualify for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. This target is part of a broader roadmap to transform rugby into a top-five sport in India by professionalizing the ecosystem and building a national viewership through the newly launched Rugby Premier League (RPL). Bose has set an "audacious dream" for the women's team to qualify for the 2032 Olympics and the men's team by 2036. To reach the Olympics, India must climb to the top two in Asia. Currently, the women are ranked 10th and the men 15th.
“In 2026 (for the women's team), we are hoping that the field will be bigger. If it is the same field, our realistic objective would be seventh, sixth and fifth. To get to the top-two or top-three in Asia, it will take us four to five years. The federation's audacious dream is to be in the Olympics in 2032 for the women and 2036 for the men.
Qualifying would make rugby the first team sport after hockey in 80 years to represent India at the Olympics
VIDEO | President of the Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India), Rahul Bose (@RahulBose1), has set his sights on the 2032 Olympics, aiming to make Rugby the next major team sport from India to grace the global stage. Speaking to PTI Videos on the sidelines of the high-octane… pic.twitter.com/5xdp5xQhjZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2026
Rugby Premier League commences its second season this June
The Rugby Premier League (RPL) is entering its second season in June 2026.
Following the successful inaugural edition in June 2025, the league is expanding to include women's franchises and moving to a new host city. The event will begin from June 16 and will last until the last week of June. For the first time, national players are being paid for camps (approx. ₹50,000–₹60,000), treating rugby as a legitimate career rather than a hobby. Six city-based franchises (e.g., Mumbai Dreamers, Delhi Redz) are required to build sub-centers with practice fields, sports science, and rehab facilities.
Each team will scout 35 Indian players to play alongside international stars, providing immediate exposure to world-class standards. Matches will be broadcasted on JioHotstar and Star Sports, aiming for 10–15 million viewers to attract sustainable sponsorship. Under head coach and rugby legend Waisale Serevi, the focus has shifted to rigorous 50-60 day national camps and international exposure tours.
