Sumit Kumar Roy secured the top spot among Indian men, signing for Hyderabad Heroes at 3.75 lakh, while Shikha Yadav led the Indian buys for Delhi Redz at 2.4 lakh in the inaugural women’s auction for Rugby Premier League’s Season 2 in Hyderabad. All franchises have built strong squads for the upcoming Rugby Premier League season. The men’s and women’s competitions are scheduled to take place at Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad, from June 16 to 28, 2026.
The auction and draft marked a significant milestone for Indian rugby as women’s franchises also participated, with Chennai Bulls, Mumbai Dreamers, Kolkata Banga Tigers, and Delhi Redz forming their inaugural squads. The league saw six men’s and four women’s franchises strategically selecting a mix of experienced internationals and emerging Indian talent.
In the men’s auction, players like Sumit Kumar Roy, Mohit Khatri, Deepak Kumar Punia, and Prashant Arvind Pratap Singh were among the top picks, with Sumit Kumar Roy emerging as the highest-paid Indian player at 3.75L for Hyderabad Heroes. For the women’s auction, players like Shikha Yadav, Bhumika Shukla, Nirmalya Rout, and Amandeep Kaur were notable signings, with Shikha Yadav being the highest-paid player at 2.4L for Delhi Redz.
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, expressed excitement about the competitive nature of the upcoming Rugby Premier League, especially with the inclusion of the women’s league. Sujoy Ganguly, CMO of GMR Sports, highlighted the significance of introducing the women’s league to the Rugby Premier League, emphasizing the commitment to building competitive women’s teams in Indian rugby.
With the finalization of squads, teams will now focus on pre-season preparations as the Rugby Premier League aims to establish itself as a premier rugby platform in the country.
