Shujaa star shines as Hyderabad Heroes clinch 2026 Rugby Premier League title
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 28.06.26. | 19:12
The Kenyan player played a massive role in the big win recorded by his club on Sunday
Hyderabad Heroes clinched their maiden Rugby Premier League (RPL) title after producing a commanding performance to defeat Mumbai Dreamers 41-17 in the final played on Sunday, 28 June at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, India.
Kenya international Kevin Wekesa started for the Heroes, who are coached by New Zealand rugby sevens legend DJ Forbes.
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The victory capped off an impressive campaign for the franchise, who had booked their place in the final after edging Chennai Bulls 29-24 in a thrilling semifinal.
The triumph also marked a significant milestone for rugby in India.
Exactly 155 years after the country’s first recorded rugby match, the inaugural Rugby Premier League concluded with a showpiece final that highlighted the rapid growth of the sport.
The Heroes began brightly but were unable to capitalise on their early dominance after a costly error deep inside their own territory handed possession to the Dreamers.
Mumbai controlled the ball for long spells, resulting in a cagey opening quarter that ended scoreless.
The deadlock was finally broken in the second quarter after a misplaced pass by Mumbai’s James Turner gifted Hyderabad possession.
Shivam Shukla punished the mistake by crossing over for the opening try of the contest before adding another moments later.
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A successful conversion pushed the Heroes further ahead before they slotted a drop goal to head into halftime with a comfortable 15-0 advantage.
Hyderabad wasted little time extending their lead after the restart.
Diego Ardao crossed over straight from the kickoff for his eighth try of the tournament, with the conversion stretching the score to 22-0.
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Mumbai eventually got on the scoreboard after earning a penalty that gave them field position.
Ethan McFarland finished off the move with the Dreamers’ first try of the final, offering a glimmer of hope.
However, the Heroes responded immediately.
Ardao completed his brace to restore Hyderabad’s dominance before Wekesa produced one of the defining moments of the match.
The Kenyan forward won a crucial contest at the breakdown before powering over for a try, his fifth of the tournament, as Hyderabad surged into a commanding 34-5 lead.
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Terio Tamani added another try early in the fourth quarter, with the conversion extending the advantage further.
Turner later crossed over for Mumbai, while the Dreamers added another late score, but the comeback never materialised as Hyderabad comfortably closed out a 41-17 victory.