- Kevin Wekesa has been retained by the Hyderabad Heroes for the 2026 Rugby Premier League (RPL).
- This marks the second season of the Rugby Premier League, scheduled for June 16–28 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
- The Heroes finished third in the inaugural season, which was won by the Chennai Bulls.
Kenya 7s powerhouse Kevin Wekesa has been retained by the Hyderabad Heroes for the 2026 Rugby Premier League (RPL).
The Rugby Premier League made history as the world’s first franchise-based rugby sevens league last year when it debuted at Mumbai Football Arena in India, with HSBC SVNS Series stars taking part.
Season two will follow a similar vibe, with the tournament slated for June 16-28 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
Following a successful opening campaign in Mumbai, the league returns in that fast-paced Rugby 7s format, sticking to its mission of speeding up rugby’s growth and global competitiveness in India.
The upcoming edition will again feature six franchises, bringing together a cool mix of international stars and rising Indian talent.
READ MORE: Kenya 7s stars Odongo, Wekesa claim silverware in India’s inaugural Rugby Premier League
Kevin Wekesa retained for season 2 of the Rugby Premier League
The first season of the Rugby Premier League set a solid benchmark, with Chennai Bulls crowned as the inaugural champions after a thrilling run when they smashed Delhi Redz with a resounding 41-0 victory in the final held at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex.
With Wekesa being retained, the Hyderabad Heroes will be gunning for glory in the second season after they bagged the bronze medal, finishing third by defeating the Bengaluru Bravehearts 17–12 in the third-place playoff. Wekesa was one of the key guys in that squad.
He was one of only two Kenyan players featured in the inaugural season, alongside Shujaa speedster Patrick Odongo, who stood out for Delhi Redz under the guidance of the legendary Tomasi Cama, while the Heroes were coached by DJ Forbes.
In addition, season two of the HSBC Rugby Premier League is set to be bigger and more dynamic, with Rugby India introducing its inaugural women’s edition in June, featuring four franchise teams.
READ MORE: Kenya 7s duo shine in inaugural Rugby Premier League opener
Four of the six men’s teams that competed in the RPL in 2025 will also field women’s teams.
Those four are the Chennai Bulls (owned by Avid Sys Sports), Delhi Redz (RMZ Corp), Mumbai Dreamers (Dream Sports), and Kolkata Banga Tigers (Hunch Ventures).
Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, said rolling out a women’s competition has long been a priority and reflects the growing appeal of women’s rugby globally.
He added that the upcoming season will showcase the strength of Indian female players on a professional stage.
“It has always been our dream at Rugby India to have an RPL Women’s edition. This year that dream comes to life. We have our partners, GMR Sports, and our wonderful franchises to thank. Women’s 7s rugby across the world is just as exciting as men’s 7s rugby. And our Indian women are superb! Come and witness the action in Hyderabad.”
Major Indian cities will be represented, with Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar as the six city-based franchises.
The core men’s teams are the Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and Mumbai Dreamers.
Squad selections are still ongoing, with the likes of Odongo still having a chance to be retained for this second edition.
