Ikitau Rejects R360 for World Cup: Wallabies Prioritize 2027 World Cup

Len Ikitau Prioritizes Rugby World Cup Over R360 Competition

The Wallabies center, Len Ikitau, has expressed his firm stance on his future in rugby. Ikitau has revealed that he would not join the R360 competition, an emerging league, if this meant losing the opportunity to play in the 2027 World Cup. The 27-year-old player admitted to being contacted by R360 to join the competition, which is scheduled to launch in October of next year. However, Ikitau is reluctant to participate, as it could cost him a place on the national team.

Being able to play in a Rugby World Cup, and for it to be in Australia, I think is an opportunity that doesn’t come around twice.

Len Ikitau

Ikitau’s decision reflects the position of Rugby Australia, which, along with other major rugby unions such as New Zealand, England, Ireland, and France, has announced that it will prohibit players from participating in international matches if they choose to join the breakaway league. The R360 competition aims to establish 12 franchises worldwide, with eight men’s teams and four women’s teams. The matches would be played in a traveling format, similar to Formula 1, with events planned in cities like Miami, London, and Tokyo.

The R360 organizers claim to have the signatures of up to 200 international players and have set their sights on several Australian players, including rugby league stars such as Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, and Payne Haas. Ikitau commented on the new league: “It seems like it’s going to be an exciting competition.” In addition, he added that the possibility of not being able to play in the World Cup if he participates in the league makes him weigh his options. The player also mentioned that his agent has been in contact with the league, but that he is currently focused on his commitment to the Exeter team and that he will play with the Brums again next year. Ikitau recently joined Exeter on a one-year contract, following the Rugby Championship, where Australia finished in third place with two wins in six matches. He joins Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the team, which is looking to recover from its penultimate position in the Premiership last season. In an interview on Stan Sport’s “Between Two Posts” podcast, Ikitau revealed that he will not be available for the first two Wallabies matches at the end of the year against Japan on October 25 and against England on November 2, but he hopes to be available for the match against Italy on November 9. Ikitau also mentioned that he spoke with coach Joe Schmidt, who recommended he take a week off and join the team for the match against Italy. “So I’m going to listen to the boss and see how the situation unfolds. We are progressing in the Rugby Championship, obviously disappointed with the last two matches (defeats against New Zealand), but we are going in the right direction,” he concluded.