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Rugby Premier League set to scrum into Mumbai with global firepower
MUMBAI: India’s sporting calendar is about to get a bruising new addition, and no, it’s not another cricket spinoff. Rugby India and GMR Sports have locked horns to launch the world’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s tournament-the Rugby Premier League (RPL). The action kicks off in Mumbai on 1 June 2025, at the iconic MFA (Mumbai Football Arena), promising a 15-day, 34-match blitz of pure, unfiltered speed, tackles, and muscle.
Picture this: six city-based franchises, 30 international legends, 30 top Indian players, and some of the world’s best coaches, all crammed into two weeks of adrenaline-pumping rugby. It’s not just a league—it’s an all-out blitz on the senses.
Star-studded doesn’t even begin to cover it. Expect to see legends like Perry Baker (USA), Rosko Speckman (South Africa), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Scott Curry (New Zealand), and Waisea Nacuqu (Fiji) lighting up the turf. Olympians, World Cup medallists, and serial try-scorers are all confirmed to put on a show. Add 18 more players from Canada, Germany, and Hong Kong, and the RPL becomes a melting pot of bone-crunching brilliance.
“This is a league that’s been six years in the making, but we wanted to do everything right… Rugby 7s is one of the most attractive television sports in modern history. Welcome, India and the world, to the Rugby Premier League,” said Rugby India president Rahul Bose radiating the kind of energy only a scrum-half could match.
Franchises representing Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bhubaneswar will feature top coaching minds including Mike Friday, Ben Gollings, Tomasi Cama, and DJ Forbes. Talk about bench strength.
To give Indian talent its due, 30 domestic players were selected from a pool of 71 via auction—a first for Indian rugby. “The RPL will not only captivate a wider audience but also provide Indian players with invaluable opportunities to compete alongside the world’s best,” said GMR Sports CEO Satyam Trivedi.
The RPL has already secured an exclusive window on the global Rugby 7s calendar, ensuring zero scheduling conflicts with other international competitions. It’s now or never, and the global rugby fraternity seems to have circled their calendars in red.
Star Sports and JioHotstar will broadcast the mayhem live, and JioStar CEO – sports Sanjog Gupta promised to bring “every tackle, sprint, and score” to screens across the country.
With the whistle about to blow on India’s first franchise rugby league, there’s only one question left: Are you game?
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
