Mumbai, September 29, 2026: The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for rugby in India, today announced GMR Group as its Development Partner, marking an important step towards strengthening the preparation and development of India’s national rugby teams.
The partnership builds on the strong association between GMR Group and Rugby India. In 2025, Rugby India launched the Rugby Premier League (RPL) in partnership with GMR Sports, bringing India’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s league to the country. The league expanded in 2026 with the introduction of its inaugural women’s competition, creating further opportunities for athletes and contributing to the development of India’s professional rugby ecosystem.
As Rugby India’s Development Partner, GMR Group’s support will contribute to strengthening the national-team pathway and grassroots development during the 2026 season, including enhanced training, preparation and development opportunities for India’s national teams.
The partnership comes at an important stage for Indian rugby, with the Senior Women’s Team preparing to compete at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and both Senior Men’s and Women’s teams set to compete in Round 2 of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series in Colombo in October.
Rahul Bose, President, Rugby India, said, “The Rugby Premier League was a significant milestone for Rugby 7s in India, and GMR Group played an important role in making that vision a reality. We are grateful for their continued belief in the sport and in Rugby India. We are proud to welcome GMR Group as our Development Partner and look forward to building on what we have achieved together by creating greater opportunities for our athletes to prepare, compete and perform at their best.”
Sujoy Ganguly, Chief Commercial Officer & Head RPL – GMR Sports, said: “The partnership reinforces a shared commitment to creating stronger pathways for Indian athletes, providing them with the preparation, support and opportunities needed to compete at the highest levels. Rugby India and GMR Group will continue to build on their association to contribute to the long-term development of Indian rugby.”