Eight players to watch out for at the 2026 Rugby Premier League

With the HSBC SVNS Series wrapped up, the top players in sevens are set for a busy few months ahead, taking part in tournaments across the world.

From the Nations Championship to domestic competitions to the new Ultimate Sevens league, there will be no shortage of places to see stars of the shorter format ply their trade.

However, of all the competitions set to draw the most attention, the second season of the Rugby Premier League in India is set to turn many heads this year –  with a new location in Hyderabad, and four of the existing six franchises fielding women’s teams for the first time.

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With the inaugural season proving a huge success for the game in India, the names coming in 2026 speaks volumes of how the ceiling of this tournament is, from the highest achievers of the World Series to international stars like 63-capped Wallaby Marika Koroibete.

RugbyPass breaks down some of the biggest stars who will appear across the men’s and women’s tournaments, and who will make the biggest splash when it gets underway on June 16th.

Abbie Brown (Great Britain, Mumbai Dreamers)

Starting off in the women’s tournament, the Mumbai Dreamers will be welcoming six international stars to their ranks, but Abbie Brown is the name that will make several sides sit up and pay attention.

One of Great Britain’s most decorated sevens players, Brown has been in the circuit for over a decade, picking up a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Having also been capped for England and balancing her commitments with PWR side Loughborough Lightning, expect her to inject significant experience into the new team.

Ana Naimasi (Fiji, Chennai Bulls)

The Chennai Bulls will also welcome six international stars, with three of them regular members on the women’s series circuit.

However, Ana Naimasi, an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalist, is among the biggest buys for the Bulls, having also enjoyed a career playing for the Fijian national side and in Super Rugby Women’s.

On paper, the Bulls loom as one of the most imposing sides to win the inaugural title, and should be well in line to do so if Naimasi hits some form.

Zintle Mpupha (South Africa, Delhi Redz)

An exciting name within the South African women’s program, Zintle Mpupha is the Blazeboks’ skipper and one of the rainbow nation’s most decorated players.

Having recently led the side to a SVNS 3 title and qualification for the HSBC SVNS World Championship, this tournament will complete a massive 12 months for Mpupha, having also been named in the Springbok Women side that went to the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

With South African women’s rugby one of the big improvers in the last few years, expect that to be reflected in a dominant shift from Mpupha.

Tristan Leyds (South Africa, Mumbai Dreamers)

Staying in the rainbow nation, four Blitzboks are set to make their way over to India following their recent success in claiming back-to-back World Championships, and Tristan Leyds is the biggest name of them all.

Fresh off winning the 2025-26 Player of the Year Award, Leyds has had a colossal season, being player of the final in Vancouver and Hong Kong China, plus making the men’s dream team.

Seeing him go up against the likes of countrymen Ricardo Duarttee and Shilton van Wyk is set to be one of the big highlights of the tournament this year.

Henry Hutchison (Australia, Bengaluru Bravehearts) 

The Blitzboks will not be the only ones in abundance, with three members of the Aussie 7s side also joining the tournament.

However, while James Turner and Maurice Longbottom also stood out as the Aussies romped home in the latter half of the year, skipper Henry Hutchison, named as player of the final in Valladolid and included in the men’s dream team, looms as a key weapon to watch.

Seeing him combine with several All Blacks 7s stars, Blitzbok Shilton van Wyk and returning Ugandan veteran Philip Wokorach is set to be one of the most tantalising combinations of the whole tournament.

Vuiviawa Naduvalo (Fiji, Kolkata Banga Tigers)

Speaking of the men’s dream team and key players of the World Series, Kolkata will be welcoming one of the most dangerous players in the Fijian side, Vuiviawa Naduvalo.

Being named as the player of the final in Singapore, Naduvalo had a phenomenal year on the circuit, and is set to link up with Kiwi star Brady Rush, Blitzbok Richardo Duartee, and several members of the recently World Series qualified USA men’s sevens team.

With two of his countrymen Joseva Talacolo and Filipe Sauturaga set to return for Chennai Bulls, expect plenty of fireworks when the three of them meet.

Pol Pla (Spain, Delhi Redz)

An impressive five members of the Spanish men’s sevens is set to make the journey to the subcontinent, with Tobias Sanz-Trapaga and returning star Manu Moreno among the names included.

However, the competition has outdone themselves by landing one of the biggest names in Spanish rugby, with captain Pol Pla set to take the field for the Delhi Redz.

With head coach Francisco Hernández also in the mix, expect there to be plenty of flair from one of sevens rugby’s improving nations.

Regan Ware (New Zealand, Hyderabad Heroes)

Coming close to matching the Spanish boots on the ground is the Kiwi contingent, with two coaches and four sevens players, including returning Bravehearts star Akuila Rokolisoa, set to take the field.

However, completing an impressive international contingent for Hyderabad is the experience of sevens veteran Regan Ware, who has amassed more than 300 appearances across his lengthy career.

With medals in the Summer Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens, his inclusion shows how much talent the Rugby Player League is starting to draw – and how promising it looks as a major part of the growing off-season calendar.