R360: The Rebel Rugby League Ready for 2026, Threat to the World Cup?

The Rebel League R360: A Challenge to Traditional Rugby

Rumors and news about the R360 rugby league, a disruptive proposal in the world of sports, continue to generate excitement. It is reported that the league has secured funding for three years, with the intention of starting in 2026. However, this project faces significant obstacles, especially with regard to the participation of players in international competitions. According to reports, the preconditions to the contract stated that the funding had to be ready before October 1st, and 200 contracted players were informed that the deadline had been met. The league has suffered a major blow, as several of the main rugby unions announced that players participating in the rebel league will not be eligible to represent their national teams, essentially excluding them from the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Wallabies center Len Ikitau revealed that it is unlikely he will join the competition if that means missing the home World Cup. Northampton and England’s opening fly-half, Fin Smith, stated that he never considered signing for R360 after renewing with his club, but sympathizes with players who might be tempted by the money offered.

My agent knew that my priority was to stay in England and give myself the opportunity to play for my country and, hopefully, go to a World Cup. Most players, when their contracts end, have options, but from the beginning I was clear that I wanted to stay in England and I am very happy with my decision to stay in Northampton.

Fin Smith

What is Rugby360?

Led by former England center Mike Tindall, Bath executive Stuart Hooper, Mark Spoors, an executive at Wasserman, an American sports marketing and talent management agency, and former LIV Golf lawyer John Loffhagen, the competition aims to be a level above club rugby. The competition will include eight men’s and four women’s teams, who will compete in a condensed season format, with the league being played in “Grand Prix” style events around the world in a 16-match competition. The concept is inspired by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and LIV Golf as sports disruptors. It is reported that the league has already received interest from sponsors of the Premier League, Formula 1, and the NFL.

Where does the money come from?

The financing for the competition includes investment funds dedicated to sports and private investment from Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. According to a report, the competition has already received all the necessary funding to begin in 2026, with the goal of being profitable in 2027. An investor in Baller League and the Professional Fighters League is helping to finance the launch.

Who’s signing up? How much could they earn?

Players from around the world, both rugby and rugby league, have been targeted, some have been offered contracts of up to 12 million Australian dollars over a three-year period. Some pre-contracts were worth up to 750,000 pounds sterling (1.5 million Australian dollars). The Australian NRL competition is also a hunting ground for competition, with Broncos championship winner Reece Walsh and three-time champion Nathan Cleary leading a secret list of rugby league stars. According to reports, other NRL players include Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Xavier Coates from the Melbourne Storm, Payne Haas and Deine Mariner from the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Zac Lomax from the Parramatta Eels and Jye Gray from the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Haas met with the league in October to discuss a possible code change, demanding at least 3 million Australian dollars to consider the move, but delayed the meeting as his management team sought clarification on his obligations to the NRL. The NRL has taken the extraordinary step of legislating 10-year bans for any player who moves to R360, while establishing the same sanction for any accredited agent who negotiates a move to the rebel league for their client. The Canterbury-Bankstown and rugby league figure Phil Gould posted on X:

Phil Gould’s post on X

Meanwhile, France scrum-half Antoine Dupoint, and former Wallabies and Argentina coach Michael Cheika, have been contacted. The top superstars from the Springboks, All Blacks and Pumas have also been targeted. R360 has stated that the new format “would greatly reduce the burden on players and capture the attention of a new generation of fans worldwide”.

Eligibility and International Representation

In one of the biggest developments for the league, eight of the main rugby unions (England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) issued a joint statement in which they declared that any player who signed with the rebel league would not be eligible for international selection.

They accused the league of seeking benefits for a small group, exposing the foundations of the game, while stating that they had not been informed of R360’s plans regarding the well-being of the players or how the competition would fit into the current international calendar. The Welsh Rugby Union did not sign the statement, but did declare that players who sign with the league might not be eligible for national selection. The rebel league quickly criticized the joint statement and stated that it wanted to work alongside the world calendar. The rebel league stated that its philosophy is clear: “If the players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions get in their way? Many players love what R360 can do for them and for the game. We want to collaborate as part of the world rugby calendar.”

Where will R360 be held?

R360 is planned to be held worldwide, in locations such as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Barcelona’s Nou Camp, and Sao Paulo’s MorumBIS, while New York and Los Angeles have also been mentioned, and franchise venues are expected to be in London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Madrid.

When will R360 be held?

The original reports indicated that the competition aimed for two playing windows, from April to June and from August to September, but this has changed, and now the league is determined to start in October 2026. However, this could be delayed again, as the competition has not yet obtained the sanction of World Rugby. While the competition has secured funding for at least three seasons, the start in October would coincide with the new women’s world series WXV, while future editions may overlap with the Rugby Championship or even matches leading up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. An official approval request that was to be discussed by the World Rugby council on September 23 was withdrawn, and the competition postponed its sanction request until at least next June, raising doubts about whether it can be launched on time.

Why was R360 developed?

It’s no secret that rugby around the world is struggling, with at least 12 professional teams having gone bankrupt in recent years, including the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific and Wasps and Worcester RC in the Premiership, while seven out of 10 in the UK owe more than they own. Meanwhile, broadcast agreements, such as those in Australia and the UK, have placed rugby behind a paywall, reducing spectator participation. According to Tindall, “rugby is feeling the consequences of recent years with poor financial management, declining investment in the club game and a product that is struggling to evolve. Clubs around the world are feeling the pressure and are being propped up by the international game. The lack of innovation and rugby’s inability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market.”