Len Ikitau Prioritizes the World Cup Over the R360 Competition
Wallabies center Len Ikitau has stated that he will not join the R360 competition if it means missing 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 the organizers hope to start next October. However, Ikitau was reluctant to participate, given that it could cost him a place on the national team.
“Being able to play in a Rugby World Cup, and also in Australia, I think it’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around again,” Ikitau told reporters upon his arrival in Exeter.
Len Ikitau
Rugby Australia, along with the main rugby unions, including New Zealand, England, Ireland and France, announced that they would ban players from participating in international matches if they choose to join the separatist league.
The competition aims to have 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 plans to organize events in Miami, London, and Tokyo.The organizers claim to have the signatures of up to 200 international players and have targeted many within Australia, including renowned rugby league stars such as Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, and Payne Haas.
“It looks like it’s going to be an exciting competition,” added Ikitau.
“If you play in that competition and can’t play in the World Cup, you have to weigh your options. I feel that a new competition for rugby would be incredible, but being a part of it, who knows? I think my agent has been in contact, but I’m here with Exeter, and then I’ll be back with the Brums next year.”
Ikitau recently arrived in Exeter on a one-year contract after the Rugby Championship, where Australia finished third with two wins in six matches. Despite a promising start with an initial victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg and an incredible win over the Pumas in Townsville.
They join England center Henry Slade and winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, as the team looks to recover from a penultimate place in the Premiership last season.
Speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts podcast earlier this week, the center revealed that he would not be available for the first two Wallabies matches later this year against Japan on October 25 (AEDT) and England on November 2 (AEDT), but that he hoped to be available for the clash against Italy on November 9 (AEDT).
“I was talking to Joe (Schmidt) last week, and I was trying to tell him that I would come over for the England week to do my weekly training because I know how much Joe likes it when the boys are in the team training,” Ikitau said.
“He just said ‘no, mate, take the week off and we’ll have you for the Italy week. So I’m going to listen to the boss and see how it goes. Building on the Rugby Championship, obviously disappointed with the last two games (losses against New Zealand), but we’re going in the right direction.”
