Turner and Jobb fire Mumbai Dreamers to back-to-back wins after 2025 wooden spoon

Mumbai Dreamers have made an emphatic start to the 2026 Rugby Premier League, recording back-to-back victories at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad after finishing bottom of the standings in the competition’s inaugural 2025 season.

Aussie Sevens star James Turner and France’s Guillaume Bouche crossed for tries in the Dreamers’ opening fixtures, with Blitzbok Sebastiaan Jobb and Lucas Mignot providing strong support throughout. Mumbai opened with a 21-14 win over Kolkata Banga Tigers before backing it up with a 19-7 defeat of Bengaluru Bravehearts — a side that featured Blitzbok Shilton Van Wyk and Australia Sevens captain Henry Hutchison.

Defending champions Delhi Redz find themselves at a crossroads after a mixed start. They opened with a 31-21 victory over Chennai Bulls but then fell to hosts Hyderabad, setting up what shapes as a pivotal clash against Bengaluru. The Redz boast considerable international pedigree, with decorated Spanish captain Pol Pla, Pumas Sevens star Luciano Gonzalez and Kenyan international Patrick Odongo among their ranks.

Hyderabad are also emerging as a team to watch. After losing their opener to Bengaluru, they bounced back with a 31-17 win over Delhi and will look to All Blacks Sevens player Regan Ware, Australia Sevens veteran Maurice Longbottom, Spanish star Manu Moreno and Kenya’s Kevin Wekesa as the competition intensifies. Their upcoming back-to-back fixtures against Kolkata and Mumbai will be a significant test of their title credentials.

In the women’s competition — making its debut this season — Kolkata Banga Tigers are the only unbeaten side after two rounds. Their campaign has been highlighted by a hat-trick from USA star Nia Toliver and a double from Las Yaguaretés’ Sofia Gonzalez in a 31-19 win over Mumbai, and a hard-fought 33-26 victory over Chennai Bulls. The tournament opened with a 24-all draw between Delhi Redz and Chennai Bulls, in which Canadian Savannah Bauder scored twice before Fijian Lavena Cavuru and Blaze Boks skipper Zintle Mpupha orchestrated a late fightback. Mumbai’s women recovered in round two, with Abbie Brown instrumental in a 21-19 win over Delhi.

The women’s four-team round-robin will conclude with a qualifying final between second and third place, followed by a grand final on June 24. The men’s competition follows a similar format, with semi-finals, a third-place playoff and the final scheduled for June 29.