HSBC Rugby Premier League Season 2 Adds Four Women’s Franchises: Squad Previews

HSBC Rugby Premier League (RPL) season 2 is coming in June 2026, and in addition to signing HSBC as the Title Sponsor, GMR Sports, in partnership with Rugby India, also introduced four women’s franchises for the second season.

The HSBC Rugby Premier League 2026 season is scheduled to be held from June 16–28 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad; the change of venue from Mumbai this year is also notable.

When the RPL was launched in 2025, it was planned to launch a women’s tournament at some stage, with the initial six Men’s franchises signing ten-year deals to launch the competition, which had World Rugby’s blessing and co-operation. To have the Women added so soon, however, has come as a pleasant surprise.

Mr Rahul Bose, President, Rugby India, said via Rugby India: “It has always been our dream at Rugby India to have an RPL Women’s edition. This year, that dream comes to fruition. We have our partners, GMR Sports and our wonderful franchises to thank. Women’s 7s rugby across the world is as exciting as Men’s 7s rugby. And our Indian women are superb! Come and witness the action in Hyderabad!”

Women’s Teams – RPL 2026

A statement from the RPL said, “This marks a significant stride towards inclusivity and the growth of rugby in India. The addition of women’s teams underscores the league’s commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable rugby ecosystem while providing a premier platform for female athletes to showcase their talent at the highest level.”

The franchises which have taken on women’s teams are:

• Chennai Bulls (owned by Avid Sys Sports)
• Delhi Redz (owned by RMZ Corp)
• Mumbai Dreamers (owned by Dream Sports)
• Kolkata Banga Tigers (owned by Hunch Ventures), formerly Kalinga Black Tigers, and now relocated from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata.

Mr Sujoy Ganguly, CMO, GMR Sports, added, “At GMR Sports, we have always believed in building platforms that drive meaningful change in Indian sport. The inclusion of women’s teams in the Rugby Premier League is a natural and important progression for the league. It reflects our commitment to nurturing talent across genders, while continuing to elevate the overall standard and appeal of rugby in the country.”

The player draft was held in Hyderabad on April 30, 2026, with the coaches also being confirmed for some of the competing Men’s and Women’s teams.

Rahul Bose told us in an interview, which will be published soon, “The first women’s game with the Indian women’s players on these teams, and the first Indian woman player tackling one of these famous international players, is going to be electric.

It will be doing things for this game that no one has imagined. To see women play a franchise sport is very rare. I can only think of cricket right now. So to see our Indian women play top international talent in a franchise format in rugby is something I dreamt of when we first thought of this league.”

Women’s Player Draft & Coaches – HSBC Rugby Premier League 2026

In our recent interview with Gerald (‘Gerry’) Prabhu, the Honorary Secretary of Rugby India, he said: “The franchisees were too keen to start this year with Women’s teams, and World Rugby was also very keen. This is what I like in all the franchisees – they want to see the sport grow. They’re willing to see that their investment in that growth lasts for a long period. They don’t want immediate returns, so we have a good set of franchisees.”

Each franchise comprises 6 international players as well as 6 Indian players.

Delhi’s Shikha Yadav led the Indian signings as the highest-paid player at 2.4L (240,000 Rupees equivalent to about US $2,500) for Delhi Redz, followed by Bhumika Shukla at 2.2L (220,000 Rupees equivalent to about US $2,300) with Mumbai Dreamers, while Nirmalya Rout and Amandeep Kaur were all secured for 1.6L (160,000 Rupees equivalent to about US $1,670) by Kolkata Banga Tigers and Chennai Bulls respectively.

There were international signings of players with HSBC SVNS and Olympic experience from Fiji (3), Great Britain (2), Canada (3), Kenya (2), South Africa (4), Brazil (3), Spain (2), Argentina (2), USA (1) and Germany (2).

The fees for international players were not disclosed.

Rahul Bose said via the RPL after the draft, “We are delighted that RPL 2026 will feature a women’s league too. Women’s 7s rugby is physical, fierce and incredibly skilled. India will see the country’s best female rugby players play shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s most exciting talent.  Fasten your seatbelts.”

For currencies below: 1 Lakh (L) is equivalent to 100,000 Rupees

Chennai Bulls

• International Players: Ana Maria Naimasi (FIJ), Chantelle Miell (GBR), Carmen Izyk (CAN), Lara Wright (CAN), Liske Lategan (RSA), Sheilla Chajira (KEN)
• Indian Players: 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)
• Head Coach: Amy Turner (59 caps for the Red Roses and played at RWC 2010 / Former Harlequins Women’s Head Coach)

Delhi Redz

• International Players: Camilla Carvalho (BRA), Isadora Lopes (BRA), Reapi Ulunisau (FIJ), Silika Qalo (FIJ), Eden Kilgour (CAN), Zintle Mpupha (RSA)
• Indian Players: 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)
• Head Coach: Edwin Cocker (Former NZ 7s Player & Assistant coach for the Black Ferns Sevens).

Mumbai Dreamers

• International Players: Yasmim Soares (BRA), Abbie Brown (GBR), Grace Okulu (KEN), Marienela Escalante (ARG), Carmen Miranda Miralles (ESP), Abril Camacho Ruiz (ESP)
• Indian Players:  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)
• Head Coach: Renfred Dazel (Former SA 7s Player and SA 7s Women’s Head Coach)

Kolkata Banga Tigers

• International Players: Nia Toliver (USA), Shiniqwa Lamprecht (RSA), Vianca Boer (RSA), Ronja Hinterding (GER), Sarah Gossman (GER), Sofia Gonzalez (ARG)
• Indian Players: 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)
• Head Coach: Paul Delport (Former SA 7s Players and SA Women’s 7s Coach – current India Women’s 7s Coach)

Asian Rugby News 2026

• Gerry Prabhu On CASA, Rugby India’s Growth, and RPL Season 2.
• Will Genia Leaves Japan Set on a Coaching Journey.
• Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.
• Ruby Tui – ‘I See Things As A Sign That It’s Only Going To Get Better’.