Rugby: World Rugby demands player availability for international tournaments

National team rugby continues to be the pinnacle of this sport, and franchise leagues that do not offer players the opportunity to participate in it will hardly attract the best talents. This was stated by Alan Gilpin, CEO of World Rugby, this Tuesday. The global franchise league R360, led by former England center Mike Tindall, is scheduled to launch in 2026. Media reports have suggested multimillion-dollar offers to attract the best rugby union and league players. Gilpin expressed his willingness to dialogue with R360 and stated that World Rugby welcomes any investment in the sport, as long as it generates a more financially sustainable game for the players and the “broader ecosystem”.

Our position is that, regardless of the competitions that arise, we know that players want to play international rugby.

Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO

The executive made these statements during the launch of the ticket sales program for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Gilpin emphasized the importance of international rugby: “It’s not true in all sports, but in ours, international play is the pinnacle.” Furthermore, he highlighted the need for a well-structured global rugby calendar to ensure player participation in international events: “We have a pretty complicated calendar in global rugby, so it’s really important that anything that is supported and invested in gives the players that opportunity. And I think anything that doesn’t give them that opportunity, the players will vote with their feet.”

Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO: “Any new concept, whether R360 or otherwise, that is being discussed with the players… that concept of player release for defined international windows in our sport is key.”Regulation 9 of World Rugby requires the release of players for national team rugby in any recognized competition, and Gilpin assured that the governing body will continue to insist on their availability for all international windows. This would include the men’s and women’s British & Irish Lions tours, both Rugby World Cups and the sevens competition at the Olympic Games. Gilpin concluded: “Any new concept, whether R360 or otherwise, that is being discussed with the players… that concept of releasing players for international windows defined in our sport is key. We have to make sure that, regardless of the competitions in which the players are going to play, they can participate in those big moments because they want to. And the fans… want that.”