GMR Sports & Rugby India Sign Ten-Year Deal With Plans To Launch Rugby Premier League (RPL) in 2025

An ongoing story we have been covering since 2023, GMR Sports has signed a 10-year strategic partnership with Rugby India, the national governing body for rugby, to launch the Rugby Premier League (RPL) with a debut planned for 2025.

We first reported in November of 2023 and a follow-up in February 2024, that the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) had formally announced details for its first professional 7s rugby league, Rugby Premier League (RPL), and it was initially due to launch in September 2024.

President of Rugby India Mr. Rahul Bose and President of GMR Sports, Mr. PKSV Sagar, signed the partnership.

Mr. Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, said, “The Rugby Premier League is a game-changer for rugby in India. With World Rugby’s support and GMR Sports’ expertise, we are set to deliver a league that showcases the finest talent and professionalism. Fans can expect nothing less than world-class rugby action that will inspire the next generation of athletes in our country.”

Mr. P. K. S. V. Sagar, President of GMR Sports explained, “Our collaboration with Rugby India, a dynamic and excellence-driven organization, marks an exciting new chapter for both Rugby India and GMR Sports.”

Following the latest signing on December 22, 2024, the RPL plans to be one of the world’s first franchise-based rugby leagues and will feature six city-based sides “showcasing elite talent from top rugby nations globally.” The city-based franchises, ownership details, and international coaches are scheduled to be announced in around five weeks’ time (the end of January 2025).

Mr. Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman of GMR Sports, added: “At GMR Sports, we believe in driving the future of sports in India by creating platforms that inspire athletes and fans alike. The Rugby Premier League is not just a league-it is a movement to bring world-class rugby to India while fostering grassroots development. Partnering with Rugby India reflects our commitment to creating opportunities and setting benchmarks for excellence in every sport we touch. We are excited to be at the forefront of this exciting new chapter in Indian sports.”

GMR Sports said online, following the announcement “From making their mark in the cricketing world to creating waves in Kabaddi and Kho Kho, GMR Sports is now embarking on a new journey with Rugby India, the national sports federation for Rugby. We’re proud to announce that GMR are the organising and marketing partners of Rugby India in the Rugby Premier League (RPL).”

At the India Sports Awards held in late 2024, Rugby India was awarded the Best Federation of the Year – Development and they have made giant strides in developing the sport.

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