‘They believed in the project’: Pol Pla on India’s new Rugby Premier League

Now that the final whistle has blown on India’s inaugural Rugby Premier League the dust is settling, but the impact is still being felt.

It was bold, it was new and for Spain sevens veteran Pol Pla it turned out to be a challenge he’s glad he didn’t turn down.

A player who’s spent years grinding through the world’s top sevens circuits, Pla has seen the sport grow in places few could have imagined a decade ago.

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Pol Pla told RugbyPass: “I was very curious to see what this project would be like in a country where, at first glance, rugby hasn’t had much relevance compared to other nations globally.

“I was also interested in the potential challenges it might present for international players like us and what opportunities there might be to participate.”

International sevens growth

What Pla found was a competition that surprised him, not a half baked idea thrown together for headlines, but something with real distance, big investment and strong planning.

Crucially, there was a clear intent to deliver a top tier product and competition.

“It’s an ambitious project that I believe required a significant investment to make it happen. At the same time that investment is crucial to building an attractive and high-quality competition.

“They’ve managed to put together an event with impressive organisation and logistics, especially considering the country’s limited experience hosting international rugby tournaments of this level.

“The economic return at the beginning won’t be what they’d ideally want, but by delivering a well-structured project, with a quality stadium, strong broadcast production – it becomes appealing to the public.

Pla doesn’t sugarcoat reality. Launching a professional sevens league in a cricket-mad country is a tall order.

In a world where rugby is looking for new markets he believes India might just be the right kind of gamble.

“It could attract not only existing fans, but also new spectators, especially kids discovering the sport who might dream of one day playing in such a competition.

“We’ll have to wait and see the outcomes once the competition ends, I do believe this could be a new path to help grow rugby in new regions.”

Sharing the stage with India’s new generation

One of the RPL’s key elements is its player model – international stars like Pla sharing the pitch and locker room with Indian talent. For him, this mix is more than a feel good story. It’s vital.

“It’s an interesting combination. It’s important for local players as well as coaches and others involved in rugby in these regions to have the chance to interact and work alongside top-level players and coaches.

“On one hand, it can be very motivating to be around people they’ve watched on TV or followed on social media, people they look up to and now those individuals are teammates.

Beyond the technical side of skills, tactics and fitness – Pla points to the off-field lessons local players are absorbing.

“They can learn technical and tactical aspects, but also what the life of a professional athlete is like. Their daily routines, nutrition, preparation for training and matches.

“For a country with a developing rugby culture and much room for growth, all this knowledge and motivation can be extremely valuable. Not only on the sporting side but also organisational aspects.”

New city and culture with the same standards

So how does preparing for a tournament in India compare to the World Series?

“Overall, it hasn’t been drastically different from preparing for a World Series event. There are certain details that change – logistical comforts, for example.

“Moving around the city can be complicated due to traffic or differences in how local and international players perceive day-to-day professionalism.

“We’ve had to adapt to the local food and variety, but nothing particularly unusual.”

What makes the RPL different?

In a landscape dotted with start up sevens events, what separates the Rugby Premier League from the rest?

“There are several elements that together make participation in this competition really attractive.

“Firstly, the chance to discover a new country and culture. Then, the opportunity to share the experience with international players we usually face on the field – this makes it special.

“The tournament was presented with good organisation and a unique, appealing format. The financial offer and investment they made to us was also an important factor.”

The potential to attract new fans in India

With a polished on field product and smart use of social media, Pol Pla believes the Rugby Premier League has laid the groundwork to capture new fans in India, especially by blending international stars with homegrown talent.

“I don’t know exactly how much outreach has been done within the country, but I’ve seen that the franchises and all stakeholders have been very active on social media, promoting and distributing content.

“The mix of foreign and local players allows Indian spectators to feel closer to the competition and connect with it through their local players.”

Final thoughts 

Pla details how he’d have no hesitation encouraging other top players to get involved.

“I would absolutely encourage other top-level rugby sevens players to explore the leagues. I’d definitely encourage more international players to take part in these enriching experiences.”

Pla’s message is clear that India’s Rugby Premier League might be the sport’s next great experiment, but it’s not just a novelty.

According to one of sevens’ most experienced heads it’s definitely something to get behind.

“I haven’t seen many other emerging competitions like this one, but I think the main difference lies in the level of investment.

“They were committed to creating the best possible product and understood that this required significant initial funding and they embraced it.

“They believed in the project and it seems they really went for it. They might not see the returns they hoped for immediately, but with a quality product it’s much easier to attract new spectators and inspire kids to compete in events like this in the future and get involved in the sport.”