GMR Sports, in partnership with Rugby India, has announced that the second season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) will take place at the Gachibowli Stadium from June 16 to June 28, 2026, reinforcing the league’s ambition to accelerate the growth of professional rugby in India.
The upcoming edition will once again be played in the fast-paced Rugby Sevens format, designed to deliver high-intensity matches that are aligned with modern broadcast demands and evolving fan consumption patterns. Season 2 is expected to feature six franchise teams, combining leading Indian players with international talent as the league continues to build competitive depth and commercial traction.
The inaugural edition of the Rugby Premier League was held in Mumbai in 2025, where Chennai Bulls emerged as champions, setting the benchmark for the competition’s sporting and operational standards. The league is positioned as one of the first structured franchise-based Rugby Sevens properties globally, reflecting a long-term effort to create a sustainable professional ecosystem for the sport in India.
Welcoming the league to Hyderabad, Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government (Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture & Sports Department), Government of Telangana, said, “Hyderabad’s emergence as a global sporting destination reflects Telangana’s long-term policy vision and institutional support for international partnerships. Events like the Rugby Premier League contribute significantly to tourism, urban visibility, and the broader sports economy of the State.”
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, added, “With everything one does in life, the quest is to always do better, be better, deliver better. That will continue to be the cornerstone of the RPL.
“Building a world-class property will never be enough. We will always strive to deliver a better product for our fans, do better by our sponsors and last but not least, be better partners for our franchises, their owners and their support staff. RPL 2026 at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad sets out to achieve all this and more. We promise a better fan experience, an even more thrilling quality of world-class rugby and a brilliant television and OTT product. As always, we cannot do anything alone. We rely on all our partners, including the media, to guide, advise and be the wind beneath our wings. Here’s to a cracking RPL 2026!”
Satyam Trivedi, CEO, GMR Sports, continued, “We’re delighted to announce that the second season of Rugby Premier League will be hosted in Hyderabad at the world-class Gachibowli Stadium. Hyderabad’s premier sports infrastructure, excellent connectivity, and passionate fan base make it the perfect home for the league. One of our franchise partners is rooted in Hyderabad, underscoring the city’s pivotal role in our long-term vision for rugby in India. This reflects GMR Sports’ commitment to growing participation, delivering world-class sporting experiences, and inspiring the next generation of athletes in Hyderabad and beyond.”
Dr A. Sonibala Devi, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Sports Authority of Telangana, shared, “Hosting the Rugby Premier League at the Gachibowli Stadium strengthens our high-performance ecosystem and provides invaluable exposure to emerging talent. Such international competitions accelerate athlete development and reinforce Telangana’s commitment to sporting excellence.”
Hosting the tournament in Hyderabad aligns with GMR Sports’ broader strategy of developing sports infrastructure and creating integrated sporting environments that support athlete development and fan engagement. The move also strengthens Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a destination for international sporting events, supported by modern venues, connectivity, and government backing.
The Rugby Premier League forms part of a wider vision to increase participation, enhance visibility, and create new commercial opportunities within the Indian rugby landscape. By combining franchise investment, international expertise, and a compact tournament window, the league aims to establish a scalable model capable of attracting sponsors, broadcasters, and new audiences to the sport.
With a new host city and an established competitive framework, Season 2 of the Rugby Premier League is expected to further strengthen rugby’s presence in India while contributing to the development of a structured pathway for emerging talent and a commercially viable professional league structure.
