The rugby world is buzzing with controversy and anticipation as the proposed rebel league, R360, continues to shake the foundations of both rugby union and rugby league. With three years of reported funding secured and a bold plan to launch in October 2026, R360 is aiming to disrupt the global rugby landscape, but not without facing fierce resistance from established governing bodies and national unions.
Announced as an ambitious project fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, Bath executive Stuart Hooper, sports marketing executive Mark Spoors, and ex-LIV Golf lawyer John Loffhagen, R360 aspires to be more than just another league. The competition is set to feature eight men’s teams and four women’s teams, playing a condensed 16-game season in a ‘grand prix’ style format at major venues around the world. Locations under consideration include Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Camp Nou in Barcelona, Morumbi in São Paulo, as well as cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Madrid.
The league’s model draws inspiration from the Indian Premier League and LIV Golf, aiming to combine spectacle with sporting excellence. According to reports, R360 has already attracted significant financial backing from sports investment funds and private investors in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. City AM reports that all necessary funding is in place, with the league targeting profitability by 2027.
But what’s really got the rugby world talking? The eye-watering contracts reportedly being dangled in front of top talent. Players from both rugby union and rugby league have been targeted, with some offers reaching as high as AUD$12 million over three years. Pre-contracts worth up to £750,000 (about AUD$1.5 million) have been mentioned, sparking intense speculation and, understandably, concern among established leagues.
R360’s recruitment drive hasn’t gone unnoticed. Australia’s NRL stars like Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Xavier Coates, Payne Haas, Deine Mariner, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Zac Lomax, and Jye Gray have reportedly been approached. Payne Haas, in particular, was said to be in talks with R360, reportedly demanding at least AUD$3 million to consider a switch. However, Haas delayed his meeting pending clarification of his obligations to the NRL, reflecting the high stakes and uncertainty swirling around the rebel league.
In response, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has taken an uncompromising stance. On October 15, 2025, the ARLC announced a 10-year ban for any player or accredited agent who participates in or brokers a move to R360. The policy, designed to protect rugby league’s integrity, is as tough as they come. “Any NRL player who negotiates, signs, or enters into a Letter of Intent, Playing Contract, or any other form of agreement — whether verbal or written — with a football competition, league, or organisation not recognised by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) as a national sporting federation, will be banned from participation in the NRL and any ARLC-sanctioned competitions for a period of ten (10) years,” the ARLC’s statement read.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys didn’t mince words, accusing R360 of attempting to “pirate our game for potential financial gain” and warning, “They don’t invest in pathways or the development of players – they simply exploit the hard work of others. If it all goes wrong, it’s the players who suffer most. Every stakeholder must be accountable to the standards our fans expect. We’ve listened to our clubs, and we’ve acted decisively.”
R360’s ambitions have also drawn the ire of rugby union’s top brass. On the same day, eight leading rugby unions—England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa—issued a joint statement declaring that any player joining R360 would be ineligible for their national teams, effectively ruling them out of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Their message was blunt: “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition. Each of the national unions will be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”
The unions voiced concerns about player welfare, the lack of clarity around how R360 would fit into the already crowded global calendar, and the risk of “hollowing out” investment in grassroots rugby. The Welsh Rugby Union, while not signing the joint statement, echoed similar sentiments, reserving the right to withhold national selection from any player who joins R360.
R360, for its part, has pushed back against the criticism. In a statement, the league said, “Our philosophy is clear – if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way? So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game. We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.”
The potential for a major shake-up is clear, but so too are the obstacles. The league’s initial application for World Rugby sanctioning was due to be discussed on September 23, 2025, but was withdrawn, with a new application deferred until at least June 2026. This raises serious questions about whether the October 2026 launch date can be met, especially as the planned window would clash with the new WXV global women’s series and possibly the Rugby Championship or 2027 World Cup preparations.
So, why has R360 emerged now? According to Mike Tindall, the answer lies in rugby’s ongoing financial struggles. “Rugby is feeling the fallout of the last few years with financial mismanagement, declining investment in the club game and a product that is struggling to evolve. Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game. Rugby’s lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market.”
With at least 12 professional sides going out of business in recent years—including high-profile casualties like the Melbourne Rebels, Wasps, and Worcester RC—there’s no denying the sport is facing tough times. Seven out of ten clubs in the UK reportedly owe more than they own, and broadcast deals have increasingly placed rugby behind paywalls, reducing fan engagement.
As of now, the rugby world is at a crossroads. R360 promises lucrative contracts and a fresh approach but faces a wall of resistance from unions and leagues determined to protect their turf. The next year will be crucial in determining whether this rebel league becomes a transformative force or fizzles out in the face of overwhelming opposition. One thing’s for sure: the battle for rugby’s future has only just begun.
