Hyderabad, June 14
Spanish superstar, Manuel Moreno, has been appointed the captain of the Hyderabad Heroes in the upcoming Rugby Premier League starting on June 15, at the Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai. He will be supported by Indian stalwart, Prince Khatri and German, Max Roddick, who have officially been named co-vice captains for the team.
The Rugby Premier League is the world's first franchise-based international league where stalwarts of international rugby will play alongside the best talent homegrown in India, as per a press release from RPL.
"Being named the captain for the Hyderabad Heroes is a responsibility that I am very excited about and take very seriously. Leading the team with Prince and Max is a unique opportunity to learn different leadership styles with one goal, which is for the inaugural season of the RPL to be an absolute success for the Hyderabad Heroes. Kudos to KLO Sports for backing the team and most importantly, it is an honour to work with and learn from legendary DJ Forbes," said Moreno, on being appointed captain of the Hyderabad Heroes.
Moreno has been chosen among the 14 best rugby players in the Sevens Series and currently plays for the Spanish national team. Prince Khatri has captained the Indian side a number of times and is one of the senior-most members of the national team. Max Roddick represents Germany and has been touted as one of the strongest bridge players across all teams.
"The Rugby Premier League is a unique opportunity to grow and to learn from the biggest names in international rugby. Being appointed co-vice captain with Max is an honour, and it will give me the chance to pick up skills that will help me become a better leader. Our squad is ready, and everyone has done a great job coming together despite coming from such different backgrounds and nationalities. The major credit of this goes to our coach, DJ Forbes," said Prince Khatri, on being appointed vice captain of the Hyderabad Heroes.
"KLO Sports would first and foremost want to thank GMR Group and Rugby India for the introduction of the Rugby Premier League. The Hyderabad Heroes is another feather in the cap for KLO Sports, and both Sanjay and I are excited for the upcoming season. We have immense faith in the way our squad has been shaping up and in the leadership of our coach, DJ Forbes, who needs no introduction. This league reflects everything that KLO Sports stands for in terms of inclusivity and opportunity, and we are optimistic about the future of Rugby in India," Srinath Chitoori, co-owner, KLO Sports said.
The Hyderabad Heroes have an extremely strong lineup with the biggest names in international rugby and strong Indian representation. The squad includes- Prince Khatri, Javed Hussain, Sambit Pradhan, Sukumar Hembrom, Sumit Roy, Joji Nasova, Terio Veilawa, Motu Opetai, Max Roddick, Wolfram Hacker, Kevin Wekesa, Manuel Moreno Asensi and Lautaro Velez. The head coach for Hyderabad Heroes is the legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer, DJ Forbes.
The Hyderabad Heroes will begin their campaign against the Kalinga Black Tigers in the third match of the league on June 15.
Complete fixtures: (Hyderabad Heroes)
June 15: vs Kalinga Black Tigers
June 17: vs Bengaluru Bravehearts
June 19: vs Kalinga Black Tigers
June 20: vs Mumbai Dreamers
June 21: vs Mumbai Dreamers
June 22: vs Bengaluru Bravehearts
June 23: vs Chennai Bulls
June 24: vs Chennai Bulls
June 26: vs Delhi Redz.
June 27: vs Delhi Redz
— ANI
Reader Comments
Exciting times for Indian rugby! Having international stars like Moreno play alongside our homegrown talent will raise the sport's profile. Hope this league inspires more youngsters to take up rugby. Prince Khatri as vice-captain shows we have quality Indian players too! ðŸ‰
While I appreciate the international flavor, I hope the league doesn't become just about foreign players. The focus should remain on developing Indian rugby talent. Good to see 5 Indian players in the squad though. All the best Hyderabad Heroes!
Hyderabad team looks solid! Moreno is world class but I'm more excited about our own Prince Khatri. He's been carrying Indian rugby for years. Hope this league gives him the recognition he deserves. Also great to see DJ Forbes coaching - what a legend!
The schedule looks packed! 10 matches in 12 days? Hope the players can maintain their fitness. Also wondering why there are no women's teams in this premier league. India has some excellent women rugby players who deserve this platform too.
As someone from Hyderabad, I'm proud we have a team in this league! But ticket prices are too high for common fans. 1500₹ for basic seats? Should be more affordable if they want to grow rugby's popularity in India. Still, will try to catch at least one match!
Love the diversity in the team - players from Spain, Germany, Fiji, Argentina and India all playing together! This is what sports should be about. Hope the matches get good TV coverage. Star Sports should show them prime time, not just cricket all day!
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