R360 league rugby players will be banned from international selection. Image: ESPN.
(The Post News)– Top rugby nations have joined forces to warn players against signing with the upcoming R360 global franchise league, saying that anyone who does will not be eligible for international selection.
R360 League
The R360 league, backed by former England center Mike Tindall, has reportedly been making lucrative offers to some of the world’s biggest rugby union and league stars. But the unions say they stand firmly opposed to the project.
“As a collective, we are urging players and support staff to think very carefully before getting involved with R360,” the statement read. “International rugby and our major competitions are the heart of the game; they fund and inspire everything from grassroots development to elite performance. Undermining that system could do lasting damage to the sport’s future.”
The unions said R360 has yet to provide clarity on key issues such as player welfare, how international ambitions would fit into its calendar, or how it plans to align with existing domestic and international schedules. They also accused the organizers of prioritizing profit over the broader interests of the sport, claiming the model appears designed to benefit only a small group of investors.
As a result, the unions confirmed that any player who joins R360, whether male or female, will be barred from representing their country. The proposed league plans to feature eight men’s teams and four women’s teams competing in a short, high-intensity “grand prix”-style format hosted in cities around the world.
The International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) has echoed the unions’ warning, advising players to seek guidance from their player association, the IRPA, or a legal expert before signing anything. “Many details about R360 remain unclear, and the competition does not yet have approval from World Rugby,” the IRPA said.
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