12 h. ago Senior rugby figures believe rebel R360 league all but dead after unions’ statement

Players who sign up would be ineligible for national sidesProposed event yet to be sanctioned by World RugbySenior global rugby figures believe the rebel R360 venture is all but dead unless it can find a way to appease the world’s top nations. In a dramatic move the leading unions collectively made clear this week that players involved in the R360 competition would be ineligible for their national sides and have warned them to treat offers with “extreme caution”.Privately there is a widespread view that those pushing the R360 concept, fronted by the England World Cup winner Mike Tindall, now face a struggle to get the project off the ground if the world’s top male and female players are required to forfeit their international futures to join the rebel league. Continue reading...

Sport

36 h. ago Scottish Rugby threatens to ban players who sign up for R360 rebel league in major move

Murrayfield joins leading unions to oppose rebel league

Sport

37 h. ago England among eight rugby nations who vow to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel Rugby 360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.Rugby 360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multi-city franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

37 h. ago England among eight rugby nations vowing to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel R360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.R360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multicity franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago World Rugby sends warning to breakaway league R360 after success of Women’s World Cup

The proposed franchise-style competition is hoping to lure some of the sport’s top players but World Rugby has urged caution

Events

3 w. ago It’s ‘game on’ for launch, says rugby’s breakaway R360 league – but how ready is it really? | Matt Hughes

Co-founder Mike Tindall insists R360 will launch next year but, with financial projections changing, questions remainR360’s decision to withdraw its application for sanctioning by World Rugby this month, as revealed by the Guardian, was the first significant setback for the planned breakaway league, which had appeared to be developing unstoppable momentum.More than 160 players have signed pre-contract agreements with the proposed new competition, which is offering annual salaries of up to £740,000 for a 16-match season, with 75% of the potential recruits having played international rugby within the past two years, and at least 10 of them for England. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Mike Tindall video leaked as he makes bold promise to rugby stars

The rebel R360 league has hit a setback recently, but one of its masterminds is still confident in things working out

Politics