Messi fans in Chennai might cheer for me once they know I’m Argentine: Joaquin

CHENNAI: “As an Argentinian, I’m excited to be here in India,” said Joaquin Pellandini, with a smile, during a chat with DT Next. The 25-year-old half-back, who represented Argentina at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is part of the Chennai Bulls squad set to compete in the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL), which will be held in Mumbai from 15 to 29 June.

Argentina is a core team in the World Rugby Sevens Series, and Pellandini expressed his eagerness to play in front of Indian fans. “The Argentina football team has a huge following here. It would be great if some of that support could extend to me and my team during the tournament,” he said.

“I’ve heard a lot about Argentina football fans in India. Since arriving, I’ve seen people on the streets wearing Messi shirts. If the fans in Chennai realise I’m from Argentina, I think they’ll definitely support our team as well,” he added.

The RPL promises to be a high-quality competition, featuring 38 Olympians across teams, including 16 Olympic medallists. Chennai Bulls will be led by Joseva Talacolo, a member of Fiji’s silver-medal winning squad from the Paris Olympics.

Rugby has a long-standing connection with Chennai, dating back to 1895. The Tamil Nadu Rugby Union was formed in 2001. Former England captain Ben Gollings, the all-time top points scorer in the World Rugby Sevens Series with 2,652 points, will coach the Chennai franchise. In a conversation with DT Next, he reflected on the sport’s legacy in the region and its growing presence in India.

“Indians love competitive sport, and what Rugby India is doing with this league will give the game great exposure. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for local players to learn, watch and grow,” Gollings said.

The league will feature six clubs, with teams playing each other twice in the league phase.

“The squads are made up of three tiers,” Gollings explained. “You’ve got your top-tier marquee players, then a middle group of international bridge players, and finally, local talent. Each team includes five Indian players, three bridge players and five marquees.”

Chennai’s squad includes experienced names like Alexander Davis, who has represented Great Britain in multiple Olympic Games and captained the side during the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Another key figure is 30-year-old Fijian Filipe Sauturaga, a silver medallist at both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and a gold medallist at the 2022 Rugby Sevens World Cup.