ORGANISED BY: Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), in partnership with GMR Sports

DESCRIPTION:
*     According to IRFU, Rugby Premier League (RPL) will be the first franchise-based rugby-7s league of the world.
*     Andheri Sports Complex (Mumbai Football Arena) will be the venue of the RPL.
*     The inaugural edition of RPL will feature six teams, including one from Odisha.
*     The six teams are: Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers and Mumbai Dreamers.
*     According to sources, Delhi-based venture capital firm Hunch Ventures is the owner of the Odisha franchise, Kalinga Black Tigers.
*     Michael John Friday, former coach of the United State national rugby sevens team, has been roped in as the chief coach of Kalinga Black Tigers, which former Odisha rugby team captain Rajib Nath has been chosen as the assistant coach.
*     RPL will feature the best global rugby 7s players alongside finest rugby talents of India, with 34 matches to be played over 15 days.
*     As many as 30 marquee international players from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA and Spain will be seen in action at the RPL.
*     The league will also feature 30 Indian players, including four from Odisha, selected from an auction pool of 71.
*     Mohit Khatri (Haryana) became the most expensive Indian player, bought by Bengaluru Bravehearts for Rs 4.75 lakh.
*     Among the four Odisha players, Asis Sabar was bought for Rs 1.50 lakh by Kalinga Black Tigers and Shanawaz Ahmed was sold to Chennai Bulls for Rs 0.80 lakh, while Sambit Pradhan and Ganesh Dhangada Majhi were acquired by Hyderabad Heroes and Mumbai Dreamers for Rs 0.50 lakh each.
*     The league will be broadcast live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.