Rugby faces a new rival: R360

A new rugby competition called R360 is shaking up the sports world.

The series, co-founded by former England player Mike Tindall plans to launch in September 2026. It promises to pay top players large sums to join teams that will travel the world, playing in a new global tournament.

R360 is said to be funded by investors from the Middle East, the United States, and Britain. It will reportedly include six to eight men’s teams and four women’s teams, based in cities across the globe. The organisers say the new league will be fast-paced, exciting, and designed to attract younger fans while giving players shorter seasons and more rest.

The idea has been compared to LIV Golf, which caused a major stir in golf when it offered huge prizes to players in 2022. Like in cricket’s Indian Premier League, R360 may use a player draft to decide who plays for which team.

However, rugby’s main governing body, World Rugby, and eight national unions—including those from England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia—are urging “extreme caution.” They say R360 has not explained how it will protect player welfare or support local rugby clubs and youth programmes.

The unions have warned that any player joining R360 could become ineligible to play for their national team, which may affect stars hoping to appear at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

R360 insists it wants to work with World Rugby, not against it, and has promised to let players represent their countries when called up. It also says it has already submitted detailed plans to World Rugby, covering everything from player safety to anti-doping rules.