Delhi RedZ is a professional rugby sevens franchise based in New Delhi, competing in the inaugural GMR Rugby Premier League (RPL).
The squad, owned by RMZ, is part of a six-city franchise-based league intended at revolutionising Indian rugby.
Delhi RedZ, led by Argentine great Matías Osadczuk and coached by former New Zealand Sevens icon Tomasi Cama, provides international flair and strategic depth to the RPL competition. The team is made up of five international marquee players, three international bridge players (from Hong Kong, Germany, and Canada), and five of India’s best rugby sevens athletes. All matches will be contested at the Mumbai Football Arena in a double round-robin format throughout a packed 15-day period. With its vivid red-and-black identity, world-class support personnel, and commitment to expanding the sport nationally, Delhi RedZ hope to be an overwhelming force in the RPL and a catalyst for the growth of rugby in India.
The owners of Delhi RedZ, Sidharth Menda and Mihir Menda of RMZ, are steadfastly dedicated to rugby’s long-term growth and mainstream adoption in India. In an exclusive interview with SportsMint Media, the duo discussed their decision to invest in rugby, their long-term plans for the sport and more.
The conversation focused on their strategic approach to establishing a solid basis for rugby in India, as well as their commitment to converting it into a widely recognised and professionally structured sport.
1. What motivated RMZ to get involved in rugby, and what were the key considerations during the decision to acquire the team?
Our entry into rugby stems from a broader ambition to contribute meaningfully to India’s sporting ecosystem while expanding into consumer-facing businesses that can evolve into iconic brands. Rugby, being a high-contact and high-intensity sport, naturally stood out. The Rugby Sevens format, with its fast pace, short duration, and adrenaline-fueled gameplay, has all the makings of a great mass media product, particularly for mobile-first and short-form content consumption.
Choosing Delhi as our home base was strategic. As the only team from North India, Delhi RedZ gives us the opportunity to rally an entire region behind the sport. Northern India has a deep affinity for contact sports, and we believe rugby has the potential to become part of that cultural fabric. Rugby is already played in over 40% of India’s districts, yet it remains underrepresented in the national consciousness. That’s the gap we’re stepping in to fill.
2. What factors influenced your decision to invest in a rugby team, and how do you assess the sport’s financial potential?
The decision was shaped by both passion and potential. Globally, rugby is one of the most watched and widely played sports, with 8.4 million registered players and 1.33 billion viewing hours in 2023 alone. It is an Olympic sport.
In India, we see an untapped opportunity. Rugby’s novelty in this market, especially in the Sevens format, makes it ripe for disruption. The game is fast, dramatic, and visually gripping, perfect for short-form content and OTT platforms. With 400 million Indians engaging with sports content online and platforms like JioStar and JioHotstar pushing live sports, we believe rugby can unlock a high fan engaged ecosystem. It’s not just a team—it’s differentiated IP with multiple vectors across media, sponsorship, and merchandise.
3. How has the commercial journey been so far, particularly in terms of securing sponsorships and building partnerships?
The response has been incredibly encouraging, especially for a first-season league and a newly formed team. We’re grateful for the brands that have come on board, they’ve shown real belief in the sport, the team, and the broader vision. Rugby’s global fanbase and Olympic pedigree bring credibility, while our local-first execution has resonated well with partners looking to align with something fresh and purpose-driven.
We see these early sponsors not just as partners but as co-creators of a long-term ecosystem. Our ambition is to grow these relationships across seasons and build integrated brand experiences—on-ground, online, and on-screen. We have on board Livspace our title sponsor, Wybor, FirePro and RedFM.
4. How did you evaluate the commercial viability of rugby in India, and what metrics or indicators gave you confidence in its growth potential?
We looked at both global and local indicators. Internationally, rugby has demonstrated enduring popularity, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup being the most-watched rugby event in history. In countries like South Africa, New Zealand, France, and Argentina, rugby is a dominant sport with massive national support.
Domestically, what stood out to us was the scale of latent participation. Over 100,000 active players, 2,000 schools, and Rugby India’s growing footprint across 28 states pointed to a thriving base, but without visibility. Our aim is to convert that silent participation into passionate viewership. In terms of media scale, the RPL is projected to reach 50+ million viewers within 15 days. Even conservative estimates suggest 30–60 million OTT impressions for the inaugural season. These numbers gave us conviction that we are not just launching a team, we are unlocking a market.
5. What is your long-term vision for the Delhi RedZ in terms of market expansion, fan engagement, and revenue generation?
Our long-term vision is to build Delhi RedZ into a pan-India brand rooted in Delhi’s cultural strength but resonant across borders. This is about building more than a sports franchise—it’s about crafting a cultural movement.
We will focus on three pillars:
a) Year-round engagement – through digital content, fan-led storytelling, and live experiences.
b) Market expansion – starting with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where community pride and local sport hold strong appeal.
c) Commercial flywheel – spanning merchandise, OTT, licensing, and global player partnerships.
We see Delhi RedZ becoming a platform that nurtures talent, galvanizes audiences, and elevates India’s position in global rugby. We want to see Indian athletes compete at the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics in the next decade—and we want to play a role in making that possible.
6. How do you plan to build a sustainable fan base in Delhi and across India, especially among younger audiences who may not be familiar with rugby?
India is a mobile-first, youth-driven nation. With a massive online consumer base and the fastest-growing OTT market in the world, we’re meeting young audiences where they are—on their screens.
But digital is just one part of it. Sustainability comes from grassroots. We are actively looking to work with rugby associations to introduce rugby into school and college ecosystems. With participation already spread across 322 districts, our job is to bring structure, visibility, and aspiration. We’re also investing in player stories, youth clinics, and community events that make rugby personal and relatable.
Delhi RedZ stands for more than just a team. It’s about pride, progress, and purpose. We’re building a brand that reflects Indian resilience—with international flair and a local heartbeat.
