7 Players From Bengal in Rugby Premier League
Seven young athletes from Bengal are set to make history in India’s first franchise-based Rugby Premier League (RPL).
By jove, they’ve done it. Seven spirited young athletes from Bengal, previously more familiar with muddy monsoons than manicured stadium turf, are now gearing up to rub shoulders—and quite a few bruised ribs—with the biggest names in world rugby. No, it’s not the plot of a feel-good drama set in the colonies, but the real-life tale of grit, gumption and glorious grubby tackles.
Come 1st June, Mumbai won’t just be sizzling in the summer heat but also with the bone-crunching excitement of the world’s first franchise-based Rugby Premier League (RPL)—India’s answer to the IPL, but with less bat and more brawn. Running till 15th June, this scrummage spectacle will feature teams from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bhubaneswar.
And Bengal? Oh, Bengal’s showing up alright—with a little help from Khelo Rugby by Future Hope, an initiative that’s been giving underprivileged children a fair whack at life through sport and social development. In a world where rugby boots often cost more than one’s weekly grocery, these seven lads have literally pulled themselves up by the sock straps.
Let’s start with the headliner—Rajdeep Saha, a 23-year-old from Murshidabad, who went from orphanage to international via the rugged routes of rugby. Spotted by Paul Walsh—yes, that Paul Walsh, former British diplomat turned Bengal’s very own sporting Dumbledore—Rajdeep was picked up by Delhi Redz at the auction for a tidy ₹2.75 lakh, making him one of the highest-paid Indians in the league. Not too shabby for someone who once probably had to think twice before asking for a second helping of rice.
Rajdeep, who can play just about every position except referee, has already represented India in countries like Japan, England, and South Africa. He’ll now get the chance to play alongside Jordan Conroy, the Irish rugby wizard who runs faster than your aunt when the mithai box is opened.
“I could not have asked for more,” said a beaming Saha. Honestly, we can practically hear the BBC voiceover now: “From Bengal to the big league – a lad with a ball and a dream.”
But wait, there’s more. Arjun Mahato, all of 19 and built like a wiry underdog from a Dickens novel, will be lining up alongside South African legend Rosko Specman for the Kalinga Black Tigers. Raised in Taratala, a place known more for shipping containers than sporting arenas, Mahato’s been with Khelo Rugby since he was eight. His mother worked at a biscuit factory, and now her son is breaking cookies and conventions alike.
“I’ll try not to be intimidated,” said Mahato, which is delightfully Bangali Bhodrolok in tone, really. Classic case of keeping a stiff upper lip while staring down a springbok in full flight.
And the story doesn’t stop with them. Also making waves—or rather, rucks—are:
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Akash Balmiki (Mumbai Dreamers, ₹90,000),
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Sukumar Hembrom (Hyderabad Heroes, ₹60,000),
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Arpan Chhetri (Bengaluru Bravehearts, ₹60,000),
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Karan Rajbhar (Bengaluru Bravehearts, ₹80,000),
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Sumit Kumar Roy (Hyderabad Heroes, ₹1.25 lakh).
Not exactly bank-breaking numbers by Premier League standards, but for these young athletes—many of whom never dreamt of earning from sport—it’s life-changing. It’s not just a game anymore; it’s a passport out of poverty, a ticket to respect, and maybe, just maybe, a future with less uncertainty and more protein in their diet.
Paul Walsh, who might just be the saint of the scrum, summed it up rather aptly: “When they play for Future Hope, we look after them… Nobody gets a salary for being a rugby player.” And yet, here they are, getting a shot at glory.
With international superstars like Perry Baker and Harry McNulty in the mix, the RPL is not just a tournament—it’s a television-ready bonanza. And if the broadcast gods are kind, rugby might just knock cricket off its pedestal for a couple of hours.
Yes, the RPL may not have the razzle-dazzle of cricket’s crorepatis just yet. But it has something arguably more powerful—a real chance at transformation, a rags-to-rugby arc that would make even Charles Dickens put down his quill in admiration.
So, here’s to Bengal’s brave seven—scrumming, sprinting and soaring past life’s hurdles with nothing but sheer will and a slightly deflated rugby ball. One can only hope the rest of the country catches on.
And if not, well, as we like to say in Blighty, they’re giving it a jolly good go, aren’t they?
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