The Chennai Bulls, reigning Indian Rugby Premier League Champions, have taken the field at the prestigious Tradition HKFC 10s - a 40th anniversary edition of one of rugby's most respected invitationals, hosted at the iconic Hong Kong Football Club.
This year's edition marks a significant milestone - the tournament's 40th anniversary - and has expanded to a three-day format for the first time in its history. Held during Hong Kong Sevens week, the HKFC 10s brings together elite clubs and representative sides from across the globe, and the Bulls are proud to be competing among them.
Hong Kong is the latest stop on what is becoming a landmark international season for the Chennai Bulls. Having already competed at the Fiji Coral Coast 7s in January 2026, the Bulls are now in action at the HKFC 10s before returning to India for RPL Season 2 in June. As the first Indian rugby franchise to compete on the international circuit, the Bulls are on the field today carrying the flag for Indian rugby on the world stage.
The Bulls have arrived with a diverse 18-man squad drawn from India, Australia, Fiji and the Pacific Islands - a true reflection of the franchise's Australian-Indian rugby identity. Notably, three players - Nathaniel Gallagher, Luke Megson and Brodie Mainwaring - have joined the squad direct from Super Rugby side Western Force, underlining the calibre of athlete now choosing to represent Indian rugby on the global stage. Nikolas Gollings and Rocco Gollings also take the field, adding a compelling family dimension to the campaign under their father, head coach Ben Gollings.
SQUAD — TRADITION HKFC 10S 2026 |
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Nathaniel Gallagher AUS ★ Western Force |
Luke Megson AUS ★ Western Force |
Brodie Mainwaring AUS ★ Western Force |
Prashant Singh IND |
Deepak Punia IND |
Hitesh Dagar IND |
Shivam Shukla IND |
Mohit Khatri IND |
Shahnawaz Ahmed IND |
Cooper McGeary AUS |
Kalione Nasoko FIJ |
Nikolas Gollings AUS |
Rocco Gollings AUS |
Jack Volavola FIJ |
Nicholas Hill AUS |
Michael Icely AUS |
George Bose FIJ |
William Tewakedina FIJ |
★ Bold green = Western Force contingent |
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The squad is led by head coach Ben Gollings, one of the most decorated individuals in the history of rugby sevens. A former England Sevens captain, Gollings represented his country across 70 international tournaments and retired as the all-time leading points scorer in World Rugby Sevens Series history - accumulating an extraordinary 2,652 career points and earning recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records. He subsequently served as Head Coach of the Fiji Sevens programme, guiding them to the Sevens World Cup title in 2022, before bringing that wealth of elite experience to the Chennai Bulls and the India Sevens program.
The Bulls are owned by the AvidSys Group - a diversified Australian-Indian organisation spanning industrial, resources, construction, media, healthcare and a $1.5B+ property portfolio - whose long-term commitment to sport underpins the franchise's ambitions both in India and internationally.
Driven by a commitment to growing rugby and championing equal opportunities, the AvidSys Group has further expanded the Chennai Bulls platform with the acquisition of the women's franchise, with both the men's and women's Chennai Bulls sides set to compete in RPL Season 2 in June 2026 - broadcast live on Star Sports, JioHotstar and Rugby Pass TV.
"To have our players on the field at the HKFC 10s - in its 40th anniversary year - is a proud moment for everyone at the Chennai Bulls. This franchise was built with an international vision, and today that vision is playing out in real time. Hong Kong is exactly the kind of stage we want to be on, and we are excited to show the world what Indian Australian rugby looks like."
Monika Sharma · Owner, AvidSys Group
The Tradition HKFC 10s runs from 16 April 2026 at the Hong Kong Football Club. The Bulls' international season then continues with RPL Season 2 from 16–28 June 2026, where both the men's and women's Chennai Bulls franchises will compete simultaneously - broadcast live on Star Sports, JioHotstar and Rugby Pass TV.
