Ikitau Rejects R360 for 2027 World Cup: Prioritizes Wallabies

Len Ikitau Prioritizes World Cup Over R360 Competition

Wallabies center Len Ikitau has revealed that he would not join the R360 competition if it meant missing the opportunity to play in the 2027 World Cup. The 27-year-old player admitted to having been contacted by R360 to join the competition, which organizers hope to begin in October of next year. However, Ikitau is reluctant to participate, as it could cost him a place on the national team.

Playing in a Rugby World Cup, and in Australia, is an opportunity that I don’t think will come again.

Len Ikitau

Rugby Australia joined the major rugby unions, including New Zealand, England, Ireland and France, in announcing that they would ban players from participating in international matches if they chose to join the breakaway 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 hold 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 high-profile rugby league stars such as Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, and Payne Haas. Ikitau added that the competition seems promising, but that the decision to participate involves weighing the options, considering that playing in it could prevent him from participating in the World Cup. Ikitau recently joined Exeter for a one-year contract after the Rugby Championship, where Australia finished third with two wins in six matches. The center revealed that he would 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 that he hoped to be available for the clash against Italy on November 9. Ikitau also commented on his conversation with coach Joe Schmidt, who suggested he take the week off before the match against Italy.