Overview

• The jersey draws on Odisha’s rare melanistic black tigers and the Paika mascot embodies the region’s warrior heritage.
• As one of six franchises in the Rugby7s competition, the Black Tigers kick off the league on June 15 against Hyderabad.
• Head coach Mike Friday emphasizes the impact of international stars Rosko Specman and Maurice Harry alongside emerging Indian talent.
• Backed by Hunch Ventures, the Rugby Premier League will feature 30 Indian players selected from 71 auction-listed athletes across its six teams.
• All matches, including the Black Tigers’ debut, will be streamed live on JioHotstar as Rugby India considers a women’s edition pending the men’s season’s commercial performance.