Building on the momentum of a successful inaugural season in 2025, GMR Sports, along with Rugby India, concluded the Season 2 Player Auction and Draft for the Rugby Premier League in Hyderabad on Thursday.
In a landmark moment for Indian rugby, the women’s franchises also took part in the Auction and Draft, with Chennai Bulls, Mumbai Dreamers, Kolkata Banga Tigers and Delhi Redz building their inaugural squads.
Both the men’s and women’s competitions will be held at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad from June 16 to 28, 2026.
The Auction and Draft marked a significant step forward for the league, with six men’s and four women’s franchises building balanced squads featuring a mix of experienced internationals and emerging Indian talent.
The men’s franchises, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kolkata Banga Tigers, Chennai Bulls, Mumbai Dreamers and Bengaluru Bravehearts, made their picks, with West Bengal’s Sumit Kumar Roy emerging as the highest-paid Indian player at Rs 3.75 lakh for Hyderabad Heroes.
Mohit Khatri was picked up for Rs 3.5 lakh by Chennai Bulls, while Deepak Kumar Punia and Prashant Arvind Pratap Singh were signed for Rs 2.75 lakh by Delhi Redz and Kolkata Banga Tigers, respectively.
The Women’s Auction and Draft saw Chennai Bulls, Mumbai Dreamers, Kolkata Banga Tigers and Delhi Redz build their first squads, further expanding the competitive landscape of the Rugby Premier League.
Delhi’s Shikha Yadav led the Indian signings as the highest-paid player at Rs 2.4 lakh for Delhi Redz, followed by Bhumika Shukla, who was signed for Rs 2.2 lakh by Mumbai Dreamers. Nirmalya Rout and Amandeep Kaur were secured for Rs 1.6 lakh by Kolkata Banga Tigers and Chennai Bulls, respectively.
“The introduction of the women’s league is a landmark moment for the HSBC Rugby Premier League. Today’s draft reflects a strong commitment from franchises and GMR Sports to invest in and build competitive women’s teams, which is critical to driving long-term growth and creating meaningful pathways for athletes in Indian rugby,” said Sujoy Ganguly, CMO, GMR Sports.
Men’s Squads
Internationals – Joseva Talacolo (FIJ, Retained), Filipe Sauturaga (FIJ, Retained), Santiago Alvarez (ARG), Sunni Jardine (GBR), Tobias Sanz-Trapaga (ESP), Ethan Turner (CAN), Taualai Panoa (SAM), Tusitafu Toilolo (SAM), Hidayat Jerffrydin (SGP)
Indians – Mohit Khatri (HAR, 3.5L), Jugal Kishore Majhi (ODI, 1.25L), Karan Rajbhar (WB, 1.25L), Pranav Patil (MAH, 50k), Harpreet Singh Kamboj (PUN, 50k)
Internationals – Akuila Rokolisoa (NZL, Retained), Philip Wokorach (UGA, Retained), Henry Hutchison (AUS), Ngarohi McGarvey Black (NZL), Shilton Van Wyk (RSA), Ryan Apps (GBR), Denis Etwau (UGA), Motu Opetai (SAM), Michael Coverdale (HKG)
Indians – Rajdeep Saha (WB, 1.25L), Devendra Raju Padir (MAH, 1.5L), Ganesh Dhangada Majhi (ODI, 90k), Akash Balmiki (WB, 50k), Arpan Chetri (WB, 1.25L)
Internationals – Patrick Odongo Okongo (KEN, Retained), Luciano Gonzalez (ARG), Pol Pla (ESP), Josep Serres (ESP), Nygel Pettersen Amaitsa (KEN), Elias Hancock (CAN), Samuel Mosirori Asati (KEN), Jon Okoth Okeyo (KEN), Lennox Wiese (GER)
Indians – Vinay A (KAR, 50k), Javed Hussein (DEL, 2L), Hitesh Dagar (HAR, 1.25L), Deepak Kumar Punia (HAR, 2.75L), Shridhar Shrikant Nigade (MAH, 1L)
Internationals – Manuel Moreno Asensi (ESP, Retained), Kevin Wekesa (KEN, Retained), Maurice Longbottom (AUS), Regan Ware (NZL), Francisco Cosculluela (ESP), Diego Ardao (URU), Dante Sotonida (URU), Ravuama Seruvakula (SAM), Wolfram Hacker (GER)
Indians – Shivam Shukla (DEL, 1.25L), Sumit Kumar Roy (WB, 3.75L), Muhammed Anes K (KER, 70k), Sambit Pradhan (ODI, 1L), Rajan Rawat (RAJ, 50k)
Internationals – Ben Lasiel (PNG, Retained), James Turner (AUS), Santino Zangara (ARG), Lucas Mignot (FRA), Tristan Leyds (RSA), Guillaume Bouche (FRA), Nabo Sakoyi (RSA), Liam Poulton (CAN), Demetri Patterson (CAN)
Indians – Sukumar Hembrom (WB, 1.25L), Prince Khatri (HAR, 2L), Asis Sabar (ODI, 50k), Vikas Khatri (HAR, 50k), Neeraj Khatri (HAR, Retained)
Internationals – Vuiviwa Naduvalo (FIJ), Thibaud Mazzoleni (FRA), Brady Rush (NZL), Ricardo Duartee (RSA), Lucas Lacamp (USA), Aaron Cummings (USA), Adrian Kasito (UGA), Niue Owen (SAM), Shotaro Tsuoka (JPN)
Indians – Ajay Deswal (HAR, 1.5L), Prashant Arvind Pratap Singh (MAH, 2.75L), Shanawaz Ahmed (ODI, 1.25L), Deshraj Rathore (RAJ, 90k), Sanjay Kisan (ODI, 50k)
Internationals – Ana Maria Naimasi (FIJ), Chantelle Miell (GBR), Carmen Izyk (CAN), Lara Wright (CAN), Liske Lategan (RSA), Sheilla Chajira (KEN)
Indians – Tarulata Naik (ODI, 80k), Sandhyarani Tudu (ODI, 1.4L), Amandeep Kaur (PUN, 1.6L), Sandhya Rai (WB, 1.2L), Sapna Kumari (Bihar, 50k), Muskan Piploda (RAJ, 50k)
Internationals – Camilla Carvalho (BRA), Isadora Lopes (BRA), Reapi Ulunisau (FIJ), Silika Qalo (FIJ), Eden Kilgour (CAN), Zintle Mpupha (RSA)
Indians – Guriya Kumari (Bihar, 1.1L), Shikha Yadav (DEL, 2.4L), Vaishnavi Patel (MAH, 90k), Dumuni Marndi (ODI, 60k), Rima Oraon (WB, 50k), Saloni Kumari (Bihar, 50k)
Internationals – Yasmim Soares (BRA), Abigail Brown (GBR), Grace Okulu (KEN), Marienela Escalante (ARG), Carmen Miranda Miralles (ESP), Abril Camacho Ruiz (ESP)
Indians – Arti Kumari (Bihar, 1.6L), Mama Naik (ODI, 50k), Hupi Majhi (ODI, 50k), Bhumika Shukla (RAJ, 2.2L), Lachmi Oraon (WB, 50k), Sunita Hansdah (ODI, 50k)
Internationals – Nia Toliver (USA), Shiniqwa Lamprecht (RSA), Vianca Boer (RSA), Ronja Hinterding (GER), Sarah Gossman (GER), Sofia Gonzalez (ARG)
Indians – Gomti Thakur (DEL, 50k), Ujjwala Ghuge (MAH, 1L), Kalyani Patil (MAH, 90k), Nirmalya Rout (ODI, 1.6L), Kyra Bianca Vincent (MAH, 60k), Parbati Hansdah (ODI, 70k)
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