The Rugby Premier League (RPL) officially unveiled the match ball for its second season during a ceremony held in Hyderabad on Monday. The event took place just one day before the league's opening matches are scheduled to begin at the Gachibowli Stadium.
Captains Gather for the Unveiling
The ceremony brought together captains from all ten participating teams. Representing the men's division were Patrick Odongo (Delhi Redz), Manuel Moreno (Hyderabad Heroes), Ricardo Duarttee (Kolkata Banga Tigers), Santiago Alvarez (Chennai Bulls), Impi Visser (Mumbai Dreamers), and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (Bengaluru Bravehearts). From the women's teams, captains Eden Kilgour (Delhi Redz), Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Kolkata Banga Tigers), Chantelle Miell (Chennai Bulls), and Abigail Brown (Mumbai Dreamers) attended.
Key Figures Present
Rugby India President and League Commissioner Rahul Bose, along with GMR Sports Chief Marketing Officer Sujoy Ganguly, were also present at the unveiling, as per a press release.
Rugby Primer Highlights
Prior to the ball unveiling, Rahul Bose conducted a Rugby Primer with six boys and six girls from Telangana Rugby. The session focused on five fundamental aspects of the game:
- Run Forward, Pass Backwards: Players advance toward the opposition's try line but can only pass the ball sideways or backward to teammates.
- Tackle to Win Possession: Defenders stop the attacking team by tackling the ball carrier.
- Release the Ball After a Tackle: A tackled player must immediately place or release the ball behind them, allowing teammates to continue play.
- Kick as a Tactical Weapon: Players can kick the ball forward to gain territory or create scoring opportunities, with teammates chasing to regain possession.
- Score a Try: The objective is to carry the ball over the opposition's try line and ground it to score a try.
Season 2 of the Rugby Premier League promises to build on the excitement of the inaugural season, with matches set to captivate fans in Hyderabad and beyond.
