RFU Preparing to Prohibit Male Players Signing with R360 League from National Representation

England's rugby governing body will soon confirm that male players agreeing to deals with the R360 league will be barred from representing England, with a formal announcement anticipated as early as next week.

Breakaway League Faces Opposition from Established Rugby Bodies

The Mike Tindall-supported breakaway series has obtained funding from investment firms to begin a shortened competition next October, but the established rugby authorities are lining up to resist them.

The international players’ union has informed its members that it does not support the new competition.

Our ambition is for every player to participate in R360 and still represent their country if selected, which is why we have built the series to not conflict with international windows.

Rugby Football Union Pushing for Joint Response from Global Unions

England's rugby body is reportedly advocating a coordinated response from northern and southern hemisphere unions, and has proposed a joint statement stating that all players joining R360 won't be eligible for national team play.

Nonetheless, a formal agreement is still pending.

Women's Competition Stays Unclear as the Union Awaits Clarity

The RFU's stance on the female tournament is more ambiguous, as it has received contradictory details from R360 over when it will take place.

Although the first event is due to start in October next year, in 2027 a longer R360 is planned to start in April, overlapping with the women’s Six Nations Championship.

England's rugby authority will not permit any of its 32 centrally contracted England women’s players to miss the championship, but with R360 reportedly offering six-figure salaries to several Red Roses stars, an agreement could be reached if a clash is prevented.

Possible Split in World Cup-Winning Team Poses Significant Challenge

The potential for disunity among John Mitchell’s champion team creates a serious problem for English rugby, and the money on offer may compel it to be more accommodating.

The first R360 competition the following year is scheduled to include four women’s teams and eight men’s sides, with the opening games set for October 2, 2026.

Global Association Refuses to Support R360

R360 faced another setback when the International Rugby Players’ Association (IPRA), which acts for leading male and female athletes in the northern and southern hemispheres, notified its players that it would not endorse the tournament.

Although union officials held talks with R360 on the sidelines of the Lions tour last summer, their statement to players described the discussions as a information-gathering exercise.

Lately, various information has been in the media about the planned R360 league and we understand that more recently, a proposed draft long-form player contract may have been shared by R360 to players and/or representatives.

While the players' association and IRPA members have had certain talks with R360 officials, these discussions have been centered on gathering information to learn the specifics about the financial structure, the competition, its delivery and its relationship with the current rugby landscape.

Comprehensive details about the league remains unavailable and the competition does not at present have official sanction from World Rugby.

World Rugby Approval Still Awaited

R360 is yet to be approved by the sport's world governing body, with reports indicating that it had withdrawn a planned application in September.

Plans are scheduled for resubmission in June next year, but insiders have suggested that the competition will begin the following year regardless of whether they obtain formal approval.

The inability to combine joining the upcoming international league with an national team role could have a significant effect on R360's player acquisition strategy.

The organization is understood to have signed preliminary deals with more than 200 athletes, 80% of whom have represented their countries in the last 24 months.