Chennai, 2nd June 2025; The Chennai Bulls, the city’s official franchise in the inaugural season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL), was formally unveiled to fans at a press conference held at the Madras Cricket Club
The event also marked the official launch of the team’s jersey and introduced the full squad to the media and public.
The launch was graced by Sendhil V. Thyagarajan, Treasurer of Rugby India; Aadhav Arjuna, President of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association; and Akshit Sharma from the Chennai Bulls leadership group. Also in attendance were Ben Gollings, Head Coach of the Chennai Bulls and legendary figure in international rugby sevens, and Vinay Rai, actor and former Indian rugby player.
The Chennai Bulls are owned by AVID Sports, the sports venture of Indian-Australian conglomerate AvidSys Group. It is the only RPL franchise with an international investor, bringing a global outlook to the league.
Speaking on the team’s vision, Chennai Bulls owner, Akshit Sharma stated, “Chennai Bulls is more than just a rugby team—it’s a movement to transform India’s sporting landscape. Our goal is to deliver world-class infrastructure, elite coaching, and deep fan engagement rooted in the heart of Chennai. We’re here to build a winning culture while inspiring the next generation of athletes.”
Chennai Bulls Head Coach Ben Gollings, the all-time leading points scorer in the World Rugby Sevens Series with 2,652 points, brings a wealth of international experience. He has previously coached national sides including Sri Lanka and Olympic champions Fiji.
Head Coach Ben Gollings shared, “Rugby 7s is fast-paced, skill-intensive, and incredibly engaging. For us at Chennai Bulls, it’s about building synergy within the team and showing up as the best version of ourselves on the pitch.”
Sendhil V. Thyagarajan, Treasurer of Rugby India, commented on the league’s significance: “Rugby has a passionate following in India and immense untapped potential. With GMR Sports supporting this vision, RPL provides a robust platform to grow the game. The Chennai Bulls franchise is a key milestone in inspiring youth participation in Tamil Nadu.”
Aadhav Arjuna President of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association added: “High-level competition and exposure to international standards are vital to India’s Olympic rugby ambitions. RPL’s visibility will introduce the sport to millions of fans and cultivate future talent nationwide.”
Actor and former Indian Rugby Player Vinay Rai remarked: “Dedication, teamwork, and resilience are at the core of rugby. These values will define not only the RPL but the journey of Indian rugby going forward. I’m excited to witness Chennai take centre stage.”
The Rugby Premier League, the world’s first franchise-based Rugby 7s league, will take place from 15th to 29th June 2025 at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai, featuring six teams vying for the inaugural title.
Complete squad list
Chennai Bulls Squad: Hannes Adler, Haakon Oeß, Nikias Lohe, Terry Kennedy, Joseva Talacolo, Ratu Sauturaga, Joaquin Pellandini, Alexander Davis, Vallabh Patil, Shanawaz Ahmed, Vinayak Hariraj, Muhammed Jasim EP, and Vinay A.