Why Kenya Sevens duo believe Rugby Premier League season two will be special
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 07.05.26. | 15:45
The duo were among the standout Kenyan performers during the inaugural edition of the franchise-based sevens competition in 2025, with Odongo turning out for the Delhi Redz while Wekesa featured for the Hyderabad Heroes
Kenya Sevens stars Patrick Odongo and Kevin Wekesa believe the second season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) will be even more exciting, as the pair prepare for another stint in India following successful debut campaigns last year.
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Odongo and Wekesa have both been retained ahead of the 2026 season, which is scheduled to run from Tuesday, 16 to Sunday, 28 June at the Gachibowli Stadium in India.
The duo were among the standout Kenyan performers during the inaugural edition of the franchise-based sevens competition in 2025, with Odongo turning out for the Delhi Redz while Wekesa featured for the Hyderabad Heroes.
Speaking on their return, Odongo admitted he was delighted to head back to India after enjoying his first experience in the league.
“I can say I am very privileged to be called back to India. I enjoyed my stay the last time I was there, and I am happy that I will be going back to join the Redz family and the other boys there and getting to learn new things from other people from other clubs. Time to enjoy myself again,” Odongo told sports journalist Stephen Ochieng.
The Kenya Sevens speedster also joked that this season will feel more comfortable with more Kenyan players expected to feature in the competition.
“This time round, I will have some people who can speak Swahili too, not me going to other teams to speak to Wekesa. I am happy that the boys have joined,” he added.
Odongo played a key role for the Delhi Redz during the maiden edition under the guidance of legendary New Zealand sevens icon Tomasi Cama. The Redz enjoyed an impressive run to the final before suffering a heavy 41-0 defeat to eventual champions Chennai Bulls.
For Wekesa, the opportunity to interact with players from different cultures stood out as one of the biggest highlights of the inaugural season.
“It was exciting in Mumbai, so probably it is going to be a better experience this time, so hopefully we enjoy our time in India,” Wekesa offered.
“My highlight was sharing culture with people from different countries. This year, at least we have five Kenyan boys, so we are definitely going to spread the culture and to showcase Kenyan talent across the globe, and to try and get recognition across the globe. It is going to be very exciting this time,” he continued.
Wekesa impressed for the Hyderabad Heroes, who were coached by former New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes. The Heroes finished third after edging Bengaluru Bravehearts 17-12 in the bronze playoff.
The Rugby Premier League made history in 2025 as the world’s first franchise-based rugby sevens competition. Held at the Mumbai Football Arena, the tournament attracted top stars from the HSBC SVNS Series and was widely praised for its fast-paced format and competitive level.
Season two is expected to maintain the same structure and intensity, featuring six franchises, namely Bengaluru Bravehearts, Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Hyderabad Heroes, Kalinga Black Tigers, and Mumbai Dreamers.
The upcoming edition is also set to mark another milestone, with Rugby India introducing a women’s competition. The inaugural women’s league will feature four teams: Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Mumbai Dreamers, and Kolkata Banga Tigers.