BENGALURU, 11 June 2026 — The Bengaluru Bravehearts have officially announced their powerhouse squad for Season 2 of the HSBC Rugby Premier League (RPL) Powered by Avid. Boasting an extraordinary lineup that spans five continents, the roster features Olympic medalists, World Series champions, and premier Indian internationals united under the Bengaluru colors.
Co-owned by Dr. Ranjan Pai (Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group), Bhupinder Singh (Founder, InCred), and Sanjith Shetty (Chairman, Soham Infrastructure and CEO/Founder of Miror), the Bravehearts enter the tournament as one of the most decorated squads ever assembled in Indian franchise sports history.
A Global Phenomenon Arrives in India
The tournament will take place at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad from June 16 to 28, 2026. Over thirteen high-octane days, six franchises will battle for supremacy in rugby sevens—the fast-paced, high-action format driving the sport’s global expansion.
According to data from World Rugby, the sport commands nearly 800 million followers globally. India has emerged as a premier growth market, home to 25.7 million fans—a staggering 50% increase since rugby’s inclusion in the Olympic Games. Following a successful inaugural RPL season in 2025, the 2026 edition takes a massive step forward by introducing a women’s competition to run alongside the men’s tournament for the first time.
“Bengaluru doesn’t ask where you’re from,” said Sanjith Shetty, franchise co-owner and primary spokesperson. “It asks how you show up. This squad shows up.”
Star-Studded International and Domestic Roster
The Bravehearts’ Season 2 squad is anchored by monumental international talent who have stood on Olympic podiums representing four different nations:
- Akuila Rokolisoa: 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens winner, 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, and top scorer of the 2022–23 World Rugby Sevens Series (415 points).
- Shilton Van Wyk: Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and Springbok Sevens Player of the Year.
- Henry Hutchison: Three-time Olympian (Rio, Tokyo, Paris) and Australia’s most-capped men’s sevens player.
- Ngarohi McGarvey-Black: Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist with over 150 international appearances.
- Ryan Apps: One of the most explosive wingers on the HSBC SVNS circuit.
- Motu Opetai: The Samoan star who scored the historic first try of men’s rugby sevens at the Paris Olympic Games.
Complementing this global elite is a formidable Indian core. Every domestic player on the roster has represented India internationally in either the sevens or fifteens formats. Key returnees include West Bengal’s Rajdeep Saha and Akash Balmiki, who stands as one of the few Indian athletes to have played professional club rugby overseas.
To match the elite athleticism on the field, the Bravehearts have assembled a world-class coaching staff:
- Francisco (Paco) Hernandez (Head Coach): The Spanish tactician celebrated for building Spain’s national sevens program into a respected force on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
- Terence Joseph (Assistant Coach): Bringing deep technical expertise in sevens structures and player development.
- Manuel Silero (Strength & Conditioning Coach): Tasked with maximizing the squad’s physical preparation and peak performance.
Bengaluru, it’s time to show up.
About Bengaluru Bravehearts
Founded in 2025, the Bengaluru Bravehearts finished fourth in the inaugural RPL season, recording 5 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses across 12 matches. Backed by prominent corporate sponsors including Manipal Hospitals, InCred, and Soham Energy, the franchise enters Season 2 with a squad of 14 players from 5 continents, determined to set the definitive gold standard for rugby in India.
