01/06/2026
Before I begin, let me make one thing clear: I am not from Bihar, nor am I opposed to Bihar's demand for an IPL team.
A few weeks ago, I came across a post from a prominent industrialist supporting the idea of Bihar getting its own IPL franchise. The demand is understandable. Bihar is one of India's largest states, cricket enjoys immense popularity there, and the emergence of talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi has only strengthened the belief that the state deserves representation in the country's biggest sporting league.
However, while discussions around an IPL team continue, I believe there is another sport where Bihar's claim is even stronger.
That sport is Rugby Sevens.
Unlike many sports that experience occasional spikes of interest before fading away, Rugby Sevens in India appears to be making steady and genuine progress. The focus on grassroots development is increasing, player registrations have been growing, and India's performances have gradually improved over the years. I have highlighted some of that progress in my previous posts as well.
A major driving force behind this growth has been the vision of Rugby India, headed by former India international and actor Rahul Bose. The launch of the Rugby Premier League was a significant step in that direction.
I was genuinely surprised by the quality of the competition. The presence of world-class Rugby Sevens players elevated the tournament significantly. For a country where rugby is still a niche sport, attracting that level of international talent was a massive achievement.
This is where Bihar enters the conversation.
At both the junior and senior levels, Bihar has consistently been among the strongest rugby states in India. In fact, one could argue that it has been the leading force in Indian rugby in recent years. Yet the very state contributing so much to the sport has no franchise representation in the Rugby Premier League.
If Rugby India wants to expand its reach and build a stronger fan culture, it should establish franchises in regions that already have a genuine connection with the sport. Bihar is one of those regions.
The state also has sporting infrastructure that can support such ambitions. Rajgir has successfully hosted international rugby events.
A Bihar-based franchise would help create a passionate fan base in a state that has already embraced the sport. More importantly, it would give one of Indian rugby's biggest talent hubs a team of its own.
So if you feel that your state deserves a Rugby Premier League franchise, now might be the right time to start making that demand as well.
The Rugby Premier League is still in its early years and has an opportunity to build on its momentum. A Bihar franchise would not only reward one of Indian rugby's biggest talent hubs, but could also help the league connect with a passionate sporting community that has already contributed so much to the game.