🔗 Share this article RFU Preparing to Ban Male Athletes Signing with R360 League from International Duty England's rugby governing body will soon declare that men's athletes agreeing to contracts with the new R360 competition face being barred from representing England, with an official statement expected as early as the coming week. Breakaway Competition Encounters Opposition from Traditional Rugby Bodies Backed by Mike Tindall rebel series has obtained financial backing from private equity firms to begin a shortened tournament next October, but the sport's traditional powerbrokers are lining up to resist them. The international players’ union has informed its players that it does not support the new competition. Our goal is for every player to participate in R360 and be able to play internationally if selected, which is why we have designed the series to avoid clashing with international windows. RFU Seeks Joint Response from Global Unions England's rugby body is reportedly advocating a unified stance from northern and southern hemisphere rugby associations, and has proposed a joint statement stating that all players joining R360 won't be eligible for international rugby. However, a official accord is still pending. Women's Competition Remains Unclear as the Union Awaits Details The governing body's position on the female competition is more ambiguous, as it has received contradictory information from R360 over when it will take place. Although the first event is scheduled to begin next October, in two years' time a extended R360 has been scheduled to begin in April, directly clashing with the premier women's rugby tournament. The RFU won't allow any of its 32 full-time national women's squad to skip the Six Nations, but with R360 allegedly providing high-paying contracts to a number of England women's team players, an accommodation could be reached if a scheduling conflict is avoided. Possible Split in World Cup-Winning Team Creates Major Challenge The potential for disunity among the coach's World Cup-winning squad presents a major issue for English rugby, and the financial incentives available may compel it to be more accommodating. Inaugural R360 competition next year is due to include four female sides and eight male teams, with the opening games set for 2 October 2026. International Players’ Union Refuses to Endorse R360 R360 suffered further opposition when the global players' union (the association), which represents top male and female athletes in the world, notified its players that it does not support the tournament. Although union officials held talks with R360 on the sidelines of the British and Irish Lions tour last summer, their communication to members characterised the discussions as a information-gathering exercise. In recent months, various information has been in the public domain about the planned R360 league and we are aware that lately, a preliminary long-form player contract may have been shared by R360 to players and/or player agents. Whilst the players' association and IRPA members have had certain talks with R360 representatives, these conversations have been centered on gathering information to understand the substantive detail about the business model, the tournament, its delivery and its interplay with the current rugby landscape. Comprehensive details about the competition remains outstanding and the event does not currently have official sanction from World Rugby. Global Governing Body Approval Pending The new competition is yet to be approved by World Rugby, with reports indicating that it had pulled a scheduled submission in last month. Proposals are due to be resubmitted in June next year, but insiders have suggested that the league will begin the following year irrespective of whether they receive official sanction. The inability to balance moving to the new global franchise tournament with an international career could have a major impact on R360's recruitment plans. The organization is believed to have signed preliminary deals with over two hundred players, 80% of whom have represented their countries in the past two years.
England's rugby governing body will soon declare that men's athletes agreeing to contracts with the new R360 competition face being barred from representing England, with an official statement expected as early as the coming week. Breakaway Competition Encounters Opposition from Traditional Rugby Bodies Backed by Mike Tindall rebel series has obtained financial backing from private equity firms to begin a shortened tournament next October, but the sport's traditional powerbrokers are lining up to resist them. The international players’ union has informed its players that it does not support the new competition. Our goal is for every player to participate in R360 and be able to play internationally if selected, which is why we have designed the series to avoid clashing with international windows. RFU Seeks Joint Response from Global Unions England's rugby body is reportedly advocating a unified stance from northern and southern hemisphere rugby associations, and has proposed a joint statement stating that all players joining R360 won't be eligible for international rugby. However, a official accord is still pending. Women's Competition Remains Unclear as the Union Awaits Details The governing body's position on the female competition is more ambiguous, as it has received contradictory information from R360 over when it will take place. Although the first event is scheduled to begin next October, in two years' time a extended R360 has been scheduled to begin in April, directly clashing with the premier women's rugby tournament. The RFU won't allow any of its 32 full-time national women's squad to skip the Six Nations, but with R360 allegedly providing high-paying contracts to a number of England women's team players, an accommodation could be reached if a scheduling conflict is avoided. Possible Split in World Cup-Winning Team Creates Major Challenge The potential for disunity among the coach's World Cup-winning squad presents a major issue for English rugby, and the financial incentives available may compel it to be more accommodating. Inaugural R360 competition next year is due to include four female sides and eight male teams, with the opening games set for 2 October 2026. International Players’ Union Refuses to Endorse R360 R360 suffered further opposition when the global players' union (the association), which represents top male and female athletes in the world, notified its players that it does not support the tournament. Although union officials held talks with R360 on the sidelines of the British and Irish Lions tour last summer, their communication to members characterised the discussions as a information-gathering exercise. In recent months, various information has been in the public domain about the planned R360 league and we are aware that lately, a preliminary long-form player contract may have been shared by R360 to players and/or player agents. Whilst the players' association and IRPA members have had certain talks with R360 representatives, these conversations have been centered on gathering information to understand the substantive detail about the business model, the tournament, its delivery and its interplay with the current rugby landscape. Comprehensive details about the competition remains outstanding and the event does not currently have official sanction from World Rugby. Global Governing Body Approval Pending The new competition is yet to be approved by World Rugby, with reports indicating that it had pulled a scheduled submission in last month. Proposals are due to be resubmitted in June next year, but insiders have suggested that the league will begin the following year irrespective of whether they receive official sanction. The inability to balance moving to the new global franchise tournament with an international career could have a major impact on R360's recruitment plans. The organization is believed to have signed preliminary deals with over two hundred players, 80% of whom have represented their countries in the past two years.