Wallabies center Len Ikitau has revealed that he would not join the rebel competition R360 if it meant 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, as it could cost him a place on the national team.
“Being able to play in a Rugby World Cup, and in Australia, I don’t think that opportunity comes around again,” Ikitau told reporters upon his arrival in Exeter.
Len Ikitau
Rugby Australia, along with major rugby unions such as New Zealand, England, Ireland, and France, announced that they would ban players from participating in international matches if they decided to join the breakaway league.
The R360 competition aims to establish 12 franchises worldwide, with eight men’s teams and four women’s teams. Matches would be played in a traveling format, similar to Formula 1, with plans for events in Miami, London, and Tokyo.The organizers claim to have the signature of up to 200 international players and have targeted many within Australia, including prominent rugby league stars such as Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, and Payne Haas.
“It looks like it will be an exciting competition,” added Ikitau.
“If you play in that competition, you can’t play in the World Cup, you have to weigh the options.”
I feel that a new rugby competition 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 for his 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 after-the-siren win over the Pumas in Townsville.
They join England center Henry Slade and winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, as the team looks to recover from their penultimate position 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 Wallabies’ first two end-of-year test matches 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 tried to tell him that I would go to 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 include you for the Italy week.
So I’m going to listen to the boss and see how things go.
Building on the Rugby Championship, obviously disappointed with the last two matches (losses against New Zealand), but we are going in the right direction.”
