Eight of the world’s most powerful rugby nations have announced their intention to impose international bans on players who join the new breakaway R360 rugby league. England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia issued a joint letter urging men’s and women’s players to exercise caution before accepting offers from the R360 organization.
The private R360 project aims to launch a multi-city rugby series in 2026, which has been viewed as a threat by international federations. Representatives from R360 have reportedly approached leading rugby union and rugby league players worldwide, inviting them to join the new competition. According to R360’s organizers, they have secured agreements with 200 men’s players and have approached prominent players at the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The joint letter from the national rugby unions cautioned players and support staff to be extremely cautious when considering joining the proposed R360 competition. The letter emphasized that while new investment and innovation in rugby are welcome, any new competition must strengthen the sport as a whole, rather than fragment or weaken it. The signatories accused the new series of being designed to generate profit, without providing guarantees over players’ welfare or coexistence with international and domestic rugby calendars.
The nations emphasized that international rugby and major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game, from grassroots participation to elite performance. They warned that undermining this ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of the sport. In response, R360 argued that players should not be denied the opportunity to play for both their country and the new series, questioning why the unions would stand in their way.
World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, is expected to hold a vote in 2026 to decide on the official recognition of the R360 league. The outcome of this vote will have significant implications for the future of rugby, as the sport navigates the challenges and opportunities presented by the new breakaway league. The R360 league, co-founded by former England rugby international Mike Tindall, has secured funding for three years and intends to launch next September, pending the outcome of the World Rugby vote.