R360: The Rebel Rugby League Ready for 2026, But Faces Obstacles

R360: The Rebel Rugby League Secures Funding, But Faces Strong Obstacles

Rumors and news about the R360 rugby league, the rebel competition, continue to generate excitement. According to reports, the league has confirmed that it has secured funding for three years, with the intention of starting in 2026. The initial conditions stipulated that the financing should be ready by October 1st, with 200 contracted players informed that the deadline had been met. However, the league has suffered a major blow. Several important unions have jointly announced that players participating in the rebel league will not be eligible to represent their national teams, which would essentially leave them out of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Wallabies center Len Ikitau has already revealed that he is unlikely to join the competition if that means missing the World Cup in his country. Northampton and England’s opening, Fin Smith, has also spoken out. Although he renewed with his club and never considered the R360, he showed empathy for players tempted by financial offers.

My priority was to stay in England and have the opportunity to play for my country and, hopefully, go to the 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 John Loffhagen, a former LIV Golf lawyer, the competition seeks to position itself above club rugby. The competition will include eight men’s and four women’s teams, competing in a condensed season format, with “Grand Prix” style events around the world, encompassing 16 matches. The concept is inspired by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and LIV Golf as sports disruptors. The league has already sparked interest from sponsors in the Premier League, Formula 1, and the NFL.

Where does the money come from?

The competition’s financing includes investment funds dedicated to sports and private investment from Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. According to reports, the competition has already received all the necessary funding to start in 2026, with the goal of being profitable in 2027. According to Sky News, an investor in Baller League and the Professional Fighters League is helping to fund the launch.

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

Rugby and rugby league players from around the world have been contacted, offering contracts that, according to reports, reach 12 million Australian dollars over a three-year period. According to Sky Sports, some pre-contracts were worth up to £750,000 (1.5 million Australian dollars). The Australian NRL competition is also a target, with Broncos championship winner Reece Walsh and three-time champion Nathan Cleary at the top of a secret list of rugby league stars. According to Code Sports, 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 switch, demanding at least 3 million Australian dollars to consider the move, but delayed the meeting due to his management team seeking clarification on his obligations to the NRL. However, the NRL has taken the extraordinary step of legislating 10-year bans for any player who joins R360, and the same sanction for any accredited agent who negotiates a move to the rebel league for their client. Canterbury-Bankstown boss Phil Gould posted on X:

Post on X by Phil Gould

Meanwhile, France scrum-half Antoine Dupoint has been contacted, as has former Wallabies and Argentina coach Michael Cheika. Springboks, All Blacks and Pumas superstars 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 declaring that any player who signs with the rebel league would not be eligible for international selection.

They accused the league of seeking profits for a small group, exposing the foundations of the game, and stated 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. While the Welsh Rugby Union did not sign the declaration, it did state that players who sign with the league could be ineligible for national selection. The rebel league quickly criticized the joint statement and stated that it wanted to work alongside the global calendar. “Our philosophy is clear: if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity,” their statement said. “Why would unions stand in their way? Many players love what R360 can do for them and for the game.” “We want to work in collaboration as part of the world rugby calendar”.

Where will R360 be held?

R360 is planned to be held worldwide, including 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. Franchise locations 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 since then, and the league is now determined to start in October 2026. However, this could be delayed again, as the competition has not yet obtained World Rugby’s sanction. While the competition has secured funding for at least three seasons, the start in October would coincide with the new global women’s series WXV, while future editions could overlap with the Rugby Championship or even the matches prior 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 June of next year, raising doubts about whether it will be able to launch on time.

Why was R360 developed?

It’s no secret that rugby worldwide 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. Seven out of ten teams in the UK owe more than they have. Meanwhile, broadcast agreements, such as those in Australia and the United Kingdom, have placed rugby behind a paywall, reducing spectator participation. According to Tindall, “rugby is feeling the consequences of recent years with poor financial management, decreased investment in club games 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.”