Mumbai, June 22, 2025: It’s been exactly a week since the GMR Rugby Premier League kicked off its inaugural season, held at the Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul (Andheri Sports Complex). One of the Olympians, who is a part of the GMR RPL, Aaron Cummings off Mumbai Dreamers believes, that the league has the potential to change the landscape of the sport.
Further elaborating on how the format of the league sets it apart, the 27-year-old said, “This is something new, something exciting and I think the GMR RPL might change the landscape of Sevens, with the way they are approaching it.”
“It’s just different. It’s more high intensity. You see more high impact collisions on the field. Usually, after four minutes or so, everyone gets tired, and the game gets a little bit slower. But with it just being four minutes a quarter here, you can keep that high intensity and high impact scoring. So, I think this is special”, he added.
Cummings also shared that the proactive format of the GMR RPL would capture the imagination of the fans back in his home country. “The GMR RPL, with the model that it has, I think this would be attractive to the American public just because it is kind of similar to (American) football with the quarters. I feel the crowd in the USA would get behind that”, he reckoned.
Speaking about how his experience at the GMR RPL has been so far, Cummings said, “My experience has been great. The league has taken great care of us. The Dreamers franchise and Dream 11 has been over the top. It’s been great.”
Talking about how he’s relishing the experience of playing in India, he added, “I’m trying to inspire and teach, but I’m also trying to learn the things maybe I don’t know. I’ve been saying how the GMR RPL has sparked a fire back under me, as far as the excitement and reminding me of the reason why I play the game. It’s been huge since I’ve been here.”
GMR RPL is the first-ever franchise tournament in rugby sevens, offering a unique opportunity for the sport to grow in India. Opening up about how this league will have an impact, especially in India, Cummings is convinced that the game will grow exponentially.
“I think it’s huge, especially for India. I’m sure you can find 13-14 players who can be elite at the sport, if not more. I think this league will grow the game exponentially because of the format it is played in, with the four quarters.”
He also elaborated on how having the division of Marquee, Bridge and Indian players is benefiting the game. Cummings said, “Having the number of Marquee players the league has, teaching the Indians and the Bridge players from the lower ranked nations is great learning. To be honest, I think this league will only grow. Rahul Bose and GMR have done a fantastic job with how they’ve structured this entire format.”
Preview for GMR RPL matches on June 22:
Table-toppers Hyderabad Heroes will be action in the first game of the day, taking on the Bengaluru Bravehearts who have blown hot and cold so far. A win for the Heroes would help them all but clinch their playoff spot, while the Bravehearts will be get back to winning ways after their nail-biting game against Chennai Bulls.
In the second match, Chennai Bulls will be looking to carry on their excellent run in the tournament when they face Delhi Redz. The last time these two sides met, Chennai Bulls secured a 21-7 victory. With their backs against the wall, Delhi Redz will be looking for revenge in this encounter.
In the final game of this exciting Sunday triple-header, Mumbai Dreamers, who are still searching for their first win, will be up against Kalinga Black Tigers, who registered their first win of the tournament yesterday. Both sides aren’t where they want to be on the points table but will be hoping that a win could give them the momentum they have been searching for throughout the tournament.
Five players to watch out for today at the GMR RPL:
• Lucas Lacamp (Kalinga Black Tigers)
• Joseva Talacolo (Chennai Bulls)
• Philip Wokorach (Bengaluru Bravehearts)
• Kevin Wekesa (Hyderabad Heroes)
• Jordan Conroy (Delhi Redz)
Schedule for GMR RPL Matches on Sunday, June 22:
Match 1 – Bengaluru Bravehearts vs Hyderabad Heroes – 7:45 PM IST
Match 2 – Chennai Bulls vs Delhi Redz -8:25 PM IST
Match 3 –Kalinga Black Tigers vs Mumbai Dreamers – 9:05 PM IST
