The Rebel Rugby League R360 Secures Funding, But Faces Strong Obstacles
Rumors and news about the R360 rugby league, which seeks to revolutionize the sport, continue to generate excitement. It is reported that the league has secured funding for three years, with the intention of starting in 2026. The preconditions to the contract stipulated that the financing had to be ready by October 1st, a date on which 200 contracted players were informed that the deadline had been met. However, the league has suffered a major blow after several of the main unions announced that any player participating in the rebel league would not be eligible to represent their national teams, which would essentially leave them out of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. The Wallabies center, Len Ikitau, has already revealed that it is unlikely that he will sign with the competition if that means missing the World Cup in his country.[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 the World Cup. Most players, when their contracts end, have options, but from the beginning I was very clear that I wanted to stay in England and I am very happy with my decision to stay at Northampton.
Fin Smith, Northampton and England fly-half
What is Rugby360?
The competition, led by former England center Mike Tindall, Bath executive Stuart Hooper, Mark Spoors (executive at Wasserman, an American sports marketing and talent management agency), and John Loffhagen (former LIV Golf lawyer), aims to be a level above club rugby. The competition will include eight men’s and four women’s teams, competing in a condensed season format, with the league being contested 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. The league has already received interest from sponsors of the Premier League, Formula 1 and the NFL.Where does the money come from?
The competition’s funding includes sports-dedicated investment funds 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 begin in 2026, with the goal of being profitable by 2027. According to Sky News, an investor in Baller League and Professional Fighters League is helping to fund the launch.Who’s signing up? How much could they earn?
Players from around the world, both rugby and rugby league, have been targeted, with some being offered contracts of up to 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). Australia’s NRL competition is also a hunting ground for competition, with Broncos premiership winner Reece Walsh and three-time champion Nathan Cleary reported at the top of a secret list of rugby league stars. 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 Parramatta Eels and Jye Gray from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, all of whom have been contacted. 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, while establishing the same sanction for any accredited agent who negotiates a move to the rebel league for their client. The Canterbury-Bankstown boss and long-standing rugby league figure, Phil Gould, posted on X:Contents
Eligibility and International Representation
In one of the biggest events 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 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 hastened to criticize the joint declaration and stated that it wanted to work alongside the global calendar.Where will R360 be held?
R360 has plans to take place worldwide, including locations like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Barcelona’s Nou Camp, and MorumBIS in Sao Paulo, 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?
Initial reports indicated that the competition aimed for two game 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 global women’s WXV series, 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 launch 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 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, 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 sustained by the international game. “The lack of innovation and the inability to change from rugby risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market.”
