The new R360 league has faced several setbacks, with rugby unions across the globe holding huge reservations over proposed plans. Aria Lindfield analyses the statement issued collaboratively by national rugby unions.
8 Nations have issued a statement warning of a ban from international participation if players choose to participate in the new R360 league.
A combined statement co-signed by most of the ‘Tier 1’ rugby nations (England, New Zealand, France, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Italy) called out the proposed new leagues lack of laid out plans for player welfare as well as disregard for existing world rugby schedules, which are already growing more jam packed.
The sides welcome new funding and innovation to the sport, but there is a concern that the proposed new league would divide rugby rather than strengthen it.
“Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”
“The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.”
Fronted by ex England star Mike Tindall, Rugby 360 aims to be the premier rugby competition behind international competition. The league would operate under a franchise system, with 12 teams based around cities across the globe.
Notably missing from the statement is the support of Tier 1 rugby nations Wales and Argentina. While the Argentinian Rugby Union is yet to say anything regarding the global statement, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), who are currently going through a consultation progress to decide the future of their professional clubs, released the following:
“The Welsh Rugby Union supports the above statement, and we are considering changes we may need to make to qualification rules in Wales as part of ongoing analysis following our recent consultation process. As we continue to analyse and understand the proposals, we reserve the right not to select men’s and women’s players for international duty if they participate in this competition.”
With the WRU currently unsure of its own future it is cautious to commit to anything which might restrict its options for survival in the future.
With no clear plan for assisting in player development or pathways, R360 has faced major criticism for threatening the already struggling club level.
One fan said: “It’s impossible not to see R360 as a project explicitly designed to destroy the professional game for the short term benefit of Mike Tindall and his cronies.”
Following the Unions statements, the R360 league released the following statement: “So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game and we can’t wait to kick-off next year, We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar. The series is designed with bespoke schedules for men’s and women’s teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts.”
The run-away league is looking to kick off next year, but with few details publicly announced and a clear lack of support from the major rugby nations there is not a lot of public confidence in R360’s success.
The Statement in Full:
“As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition.
We all welcome new investment and innovation in rugby; and support ideas that can help the game evolve and reach new audiences; but any new competition must strengthen the sport as a whole, not fragment or weaken it.
Among our roles as national unions, we must take a wider view on new propositions and assess their impact on a range of areas, including whether they add to rugby’s global ecosystem, for which we are all responsible, or whether they are a net negative to the game.
R360 has given us no indication as to how it plans to manage player welfare; how players would fulfil their aspirations of representing their countries, and how the competition would coexist with the international and domestic calendars so painstakingly negotiated in recent years for both our men’s and women’s games.
The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.
International rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game — from grassroots participation to elite performance. Undermining that ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of our sport.
These are all issues that would have been much better discussed collaboratively, but those behind the proposed competition have not engaged with or met all unions to explain and better understand their business and operating model.”
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