R360: Rugby Stars Banned from National Teams by Rebel Leagues

Rugby Blow: International Stars Speak Out on the R360 League

The powers of international rugby have joined forces to deal a significant blow to the separatist R360 league proposal, by declaring that any player involved will be excluded from selection for international matches. An unprecedented statement, issued by the Six Nations unions (except Wales), along with South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, strongly criticizes the rebel competition, urging “extreme caution” to anyone considering signing. R360, led by 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall, is also accused of being designed to benefit “a very small elite”, rather than the game in general. This happens a few days after the International Rugby Players’ Association advised its members to seek legal advice before signing a contract, which represents a major setback for a league that planned to launch in October of next year. If R360 goes ahead, a prospect that seems increasingly unlikely, it will have to do so without the biggest stars in the game.

“As a group of national rugby unions, we urge extreme caution to players and support staff who are considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” reads the joint statement.

Joint statement

“We all welcome new investments and innovations in rugby and support ideas that can help the game evolve and reach new audiences, but any new competition must strengthen the sport as a whole, not fragment or weaken it.” The R360 model, as publicly presented, appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, which could drain the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and pathways to participation. International rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that underpins all levels of the game, from grassroots participation to elite performance. Undermining that ecosystem could be hugely detrimental to the health of our sport. Therefore, each of the national unions will advise male and female players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.” The Welsh Rugby Union, which is in the midst of a restructuring of its national game, has expressed its support for the statement and reserves the right not to select players for international service if they are involved in R360. The plans for the rebel league involve 12 franchised teams, eight male and four female, who will participate in a global Grand Prix-style competition that will see matches in cities like London, Miami, Tokyo, and Lisbon. It is believed that up to 200 players have signed pre-contracts worth up to £750,000, but none have made their interest public so far, nor are there details of who is investing in the event. R360 is confident that it will launch next year despite the unions’ show of force.

“So many players love what R360 can do for them and for the game, and we are eager to start next year,” R360 organizers said in a statement; they will seek World Rugby approval next summer.

R360 organizers

“We want to work in collaboration as part of the world rugby calendar. The series is designed with tailored schedules for men’s and women’s teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written in their contracts.”