Cricket has such a stranglehold on India\u2019s sporting culture, other sports can struggle to grab the public\u2019s attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It takes something special to catch their eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, when players stepped onto the pitch for the inaugural GMR Rugby Premier League (RPL) in Mumbai in June, the crowd was stunned to see\u00a0accomplished Olympians such as Australia\u2019s Maurice Longbottom in action. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Even fewer expected the diminutive Australian to leave such an indelible mark on Indian rugby,\u00a0on and off the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Longbottom, along with fellow Aussies Henry Hutchison and James Turner, weren\u2019t just marquee players but cultural ambassadors in every sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian Olympic rugby sevens player Maurice Longbottom in action during the Rugby Premier League. The tournament was a chance to be a cultural ambassador in every sense.(Supplied)A warm welcome and warm nights<\/p>\n
Playing for the Kalinga Black Tigers, Longbottom, who had never visited India before, was drawn not just by the promise of rugby, but by the opportunity to help shape the sport in a country brimming with untapped potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a kid, I looked up to players. Now I find myself in a position to help younger kids chase their rugby dreams,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing that kind of role model means a lot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Playing in sweltering evening temperatures and amid the unfamiliar buzz of Indian fans, Longbottom embraced every challenge on and off the field \u2014 from leading communication on the field to trying spicy street food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Indian fans warmed to players such as Manuel Moreno from Spain who played with the Hyderabad Heroes.(Supplied)<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people have been beautiful \u2014 so warm and welcoming,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the heat? Not a fan!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hutchison, who played for the Mumbai Dreamers, shared a similar sentiment. \u201cIndia really grew on me. No matter where you are, there\u2019s always someone nearby \u2014 it’s a country where you\u2019re never truly alone,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He also praised the skill level of Indian players, expressing genuine surprise at the talent on display.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kalinga Black Tigers\u2019 Perry Baker (centre) in action during the match against Mumbai Dreamers at the Rugby Premier League in Mumbai, India, June 24, 2025.\u00a0(Hemanshi Kamani)<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of the six teams had impressive Indian players who developed their game with limited resources. That says a lot about their commitment and the sport\u2019s future here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sport, culture and diplomacy\u00a0<\/p>\n
The RPL wasn\u2019t just about line breaks and tries \u2014 it was a masterclass in sport as soft diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Whether it was Longbottom wearing a traditional kurta for the first time and trying local cuisines, or Hutchison exploring Jaipur and Udaipur post-tournament, these moments of cultural immersion turned visiting athletes into unexpected icons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘This is the first step.’ Bollywood star and former rugby player Rahul Bose was a driving force behind India’s inaugural Rugby Premier League.(Supplied)<\/p>\n
\u201cThese moments cannot be underestimated or undervalued,\u201d said Rahul Bose, actor, former India rugby player, President of Rugby India and architect of the RPL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSport and art are the most organic ways to create deep cultural ties.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Bose, whose vision for the league was rooted in fostering global friendships, sees RPL as more than just a tournament \u2014 it\u2019s a bridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first step. These exchanges bring trust, affection, and care. They can redefine how nations view each other through the lens of sport.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
India’s untapped potential<\/p>\n
For Hutchison, the experience reinforced a deeper belief: India is rugby\u2019s next big frontier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we nurture the grassroots right, rugby could become part of India\u2019s sporting identity,\u201d he said. \u201cKids need to grow up with a rugby ball in hand, not just a cricket bat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘India is rugby’s next frontier’. Australian Olympic rugby sevens player Henry Hutchison in action for the Mumbai Dreamers in India’s first Rugby Premier League.(Supplied)<\/p>\n
The RPL format challenged even seasoned international players. Compressed into a fortnight, the tournament demanded athletes not just perform but mentor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Players like Hutchison became de facto player-coaches, helping local talent develop in real time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a balancing act, helping others grow while staying sharp ourselves,\u201d Hutchison said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cBut the Indian players were hungry to learn. That made it a joy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Challenging misconceptions<\/p>\n
While the RPL spotlighted the calibre of Indian players to the world, it also challenged long-standing misconceptions within India.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe perception in India is that rugby is for elite circles,\u201d Bose noted. \u201cIn reality, it\u2019s played by tens of thousands from some of the poorest districts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The visible camaraderie between Australian Olympians and Indian players sent a powerful message \u2014 that rugby belongs to everyone, everywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in India helping grow a game we love,\u201d said Longbottom. \u201cIt\u2019s electrifying. And when it clicks, it\u2019s magic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It was certainly magic for the Chennai Bulls, who were crowned champions after beating Delhi Redz in the final.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But as the dust settles on the inaugural season, the legacy of the RPL is only just beginning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian players have already pledged to spread the word back home \u2014 encouraging others to explore this new frontier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing is believing,\u201d said Mr Bose. \u201cThe players experienced the hospitality, the passion, the energy. That will echo far beyond.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian Olympic rugby sevens player James Turner runs up the ball while playing for the Mumbai Dreamers during India’s first Rugby Premier League.(Supplied)<\/p>\n
For Longbottom, the highlight wasn\u2019t a try or a tackle, it was the faces in the stands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI always take time after the match to meet the fans and thank them. We wouldn\u2019t be doing this without them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cricket has such a stranglehold on India\u2019s sporting culture, other sports can struggle to grab the public\u2019s attention.\u00a0…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33957,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,4057,740,2331,26787,31151,1209,31150,31156,8536,31154,1614,31155,31152,760,31153,588,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-33956","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-bollywood","11":"tag-cricket","12":"tag-culture","13":"tag-diplomacy","14":"tag-henry-hutchison","15":"tag-india","16":"tag-maurice-longbottom","17":"tag-mentor","18":"tag-mumbai","19":"tag-olympians","20":"tag-premier-league","21":"tag-rahul-bose","22":"tag-rpl","23":"tag-rugby","24":"tag-rugby-sevens","25":"tag-sport","26":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}