Mumbai
New Zealand rugby legend Scott Curry and Spanish star Pol Pla Vegue have been appointed co-captains of the Bengaluru Bravehearts for the inaugural Rugby Premier League, kicking off June 15 at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. The league is the world’s first franchise-based international rugby tournament, featuring top international players alongside India's emerging talent.
Expressing their excitement, Curry and Pla Vegue said, “We are honoured to lead the Bengaluru Bravehearts and are looking forward to the challenge. Our squad is a strong mix of global stars and exceptional Indian players, and we can’t wait to start our campaign.”
Curry, a former captain of the All Blacks Sevens, led New Zealand to a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — the nation's first Olympic rugby sevens medal. Pla Vegue is Spain’s most prolific try-scorer in World Rugby Sevens history and a seasoned international leader.
The team is co-owned by Ranjan Pai (Manipal Group), Bhupinder Singh (InCred), and Sanjith Shetty (Soham), and will be coached by renowned Spanish tactician Francisco 'Paco' Hernandez, supported by top Indian coaches.
The Bravehearts’ final squad includes stars like Tone Ng Shiu, Mohit Khatri, Iowane Teba, Liam Poulton, and Arpan Chettri. The team will open their campaign against Delhi Redz on June 15 and play 10 league matches through June 27. Team spirit, diverse backgrounds, and a shared love for rugby define the Bravehearts’ ambitious push for the first-ever RPL title.
