Three-time Olympian Henry Hutchison is hoping to help “convert a few cricketers to rugby” in India by taking part in a world-first sevens competition in June. Hutchison is one of 30 international marquee players for this year’s Rugby Premier League in Mumbai.
Rugby India unveiled thee RPL this week, with the new tournament set to “redefine the future” of the sport as the world’s first franchise-based sevens league. RPL will be held at Mumbai Football Arena from June 1 to June 15, 2025.
Major Indian cities will be represented with the Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and the Mumbai Dreams, the six city-based franchises for the inaugural season.
LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.
Hutchison joins a large pool of HSBC SVNS Series stars who have committed to the inaugural campaign. Retired greats Perry Bakker, Rosko Specman and Scott Curry join current players such as Luciano Gonzalez, Lucas Lacamp and Pol Pla in the 30-man group.
Maurice Longbottom and James Turner are the other two Australians who have put their names forward along with Hutchison. Australia’s co-captain has never been to India but can’t wait to take part in the groundbreaking tournament.
“Super exciting. I think there’s a real space for that in our sport. To have the World Series, when you’re representing your nation, to be the pinnacle, and then these ‘IPL’ leagues to run off in the off-season,” Hutchison told RugbyPass.
“Give a chance to players to play with opposition that you’ve played against for 10 years. TO rub shoulders with other shoulders will be great, but also taking rugby to India.
“Massive country, massive population, and hopefully we can convert a few cricketers to rugby and who knows, could be poking the bear.”
Athletes from Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Spain, the USA, New Zealand, Fiji and Ireland have committed to the RPL. These SVNS Series headliners will be drafted into one of six teams that will play 34 matches over 15 days.
Additionally, 18 players from Germany, Hong Kong Chian and Canada will also be allocated into one of the franchises. 30 Indian players from an auction pool of 71 will also take to the field alongside and against some of the world’s best.
Rugby India have also recruited world-class coaches, with Mike Friday, Ben Gollings, DJ Forbes, Tomasi Cama, Paco Hernandez and Tim Walsh set to take charge as head coaches. World Rugby have ensured this competition will take place during a gap in the sevens calendar.
“This is a league that’s been six years in the making, but we wanted to do everything right. The first extraordinary development came thanks to World Rugby, who gave a 15-day window in which no international rugby sevens would be played anywhere in the world,” Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, said in a statement.
“This made the best global rugby players available to us. From there to be partnering with GMR Sports and creating the best conditions for both the international players as well as our Indian players; choosing some of the most intelligent, committed team owners and getting a top-class broadcast partner in JiaStar, it’s been a helluva ride.
“Rugby sevens is one of the most attractive television sports in modern history. Welcome, India and the world, to the Rugby Premier League.”
Download the RugbyPass App to watch exclusive SVNS Series videos and catch up on the latest news you need to know. Download it from the App Store HERE or Google Play.
Full list of 30 marquee international players
Perry Baker, USA – 2X World Rugby 7s player of the year, 3X Olympian
Rosko Speckman, South Africa – 2 X Olympian – 2XBronze
Harry McNulty, Ireland – 2X Olympian + 2X Rugby World Cup Medalist
Terry Kennedy, Ireland – World Rugby 7s Player of the year 2022, World Series Top Try Scorer 2022 and 2024
Patrick Odongo, Kenya – Represented Kenya at the Paris Olympics
Jordan Conroy, Ireland – 2 X Olympian, World Rugby Sevens Series and RWC7s Medalist
Alex Davis, Great Britain – England 7s, Olympian
Lucas Lacamp, USA – Olympian
Tone Ng Shiu – New Zealand – Olympian, 2019 NZ Rugby 7s Player of the Year, Bronze, 2022 Commonwealth Games
Aaron Cummings, USA – Olympian
Scott Curry, New Zealand – 4 time New Zealand 7s player of the year, 3X Commonwealth games medalist, Silver 2021 Olympics, 6 X World Rugby Sevens Series Champion & RWC 7s Gold
Lucian Gonzalez – Argentina -Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023, HSBC World Svns Dream Team
Santiago Mare -Argentina- Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics,World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Joaquim Pellandini – Argentina – Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Matteo Grazziano – Argentina -Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023
Mattias Osadczuk – Argentina – Bronze 2024 Paris Olympics, World Sevens Series Champs 2023, HSBC World Svns Dream Team
Akuila Rokolisoa, New Zealand- Olympian, Gold, RWC 7s 2018, Bronze, 2022 Commonwealth Games
Alejandro Laforga – Spain – Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Pol Pla – Spain – Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Manuel Moreno – Spain- Olympian. Active player on the Spanish National 7s Team on the Series. Spain World Ranking – #2
Joseva Talacolo – Fiji – Oceania Games Champions 2021, Common Wealth Games Silver 2022, RWC Gold 2022, 2024 Olympics Silver
Iowane Teba – Fiji – 2024 Olympics Silver, World Series Dubai, Singapore & Toulouse Gold
Terio Veilawai -Fiji – 2024 Olympic Silver, World Series Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong Gold
Filipe Sauturaga – Fiji – 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver , 2024 Olympic Games Silver, RWC Gold
Joji Nasova – Fiji – 2024 Olympic Games Silver, Dubai 7s Gold
Regan Ware, New Zealand – Olympian, Bronze – 2022 Commonwealth Games, Silver, RWC 7s
Waisea Nacuqu-Fiji – 2020 Olympic Games Gold, 2024 Olympic Games Silver, World Series Gold 2018 & 2019, 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver, RWC Gold
Henry Hutchison – Australia- 3X Olympian, 2015 World Rugby Rookie of the Year
Maurice Longbottom – Australia – 2X Olympian
James Turner – Australia-Olympian
