R360 issues ‘a shock for some and disappointing for all’ email confirming ‘strategic’ decision to ‘shift our launch’
An action shot from the recent England versus All Blacks game at Twickenham and, inset, 2003 Rugby World Cup winner and R360 board member Mike Tindall.
Plans by R360 to launch its global rugby series next year have been shelved, raising doubts over the project’s viability.
Despite optimistic soundbites from board member Mike Tindall throughout 2025 that R360 was on track to launch in 2026 with more than 200 players reportedly signed up to provisional agreements, the ex-England Rugby World Cup-winning midfielder has now confirmed that the launch has been pushed back until 2028.
The development comes 10 days after fixtures for the new World Rugby-backed Nations Championship were announced for the game’s leading 12 men’s countries, starting next July in the southern hemisphere before further fixtures in Europe next November, leading into a finals weekend in London.
R360 were aiming to launch its inaugural event, catering for eight men’s and four women’s teams, in October 2026, but they failed to secure sanctioning from World Rugby amid threats from several countries and the British and Irish Lions that players recruited by R360 would not be able to continue with their international careers.
“Necessary runway to strengthen R360’s credibility…”
There was also a threat from the Australian NRL that any of its players who signed for R360 would face a 10-year ban.
Amid this backdrop, R360, who named Scottish businessman Martin Gilbert as its new chairman and an investor, have now admitted defeat – for now.
“We appreciate this will be a shock for some and disappointing for all, but we’d like to explain the reasoning behind the decision,” wrote Stuart Hooper, the former Bath director of rugby and R360 board member, in an email.
“We had detailed plans to launch in late 2026. A full season launch in 2028 means that we can: go straight into a full season rather than starting with two shortened seasons; spend more time speaking with rugby stakeholders to ensure you are not penalised with your international careers for choosing where you want to play club rugby; continue to build a commercial model that sees you paid fairly for the value you bring to the game.”
R360 claimed that the delay would “provide the necessary runway to strengthen R360’s credibility, continue collaborative discussions and partnerships with rugby’s stakeholders, and position the league to launch at full scale with maximum global impact from the outset”.
It claimed that this would “create greater commercial certainty… (and) align the competition more cleanly with the global rugby calendar and ensure we enter the market at maximum strength to continue the momentum from the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup and 2027 women’s British & Irish Lions tour”.
Fellow R360 board member Tindall said: “R360 has always been about supporting the long-term growth of the sport we love. Our aim is to create a global showcase league that sits between international and club rugby — a competition that keeps fans engaged year-round, brings new audiences into the game, and elevates both male and female players on a global stage.
“International rugby attracts huge audiences and is one of the most compelling products in world sport. But most players outside the biggest fixtures aren’t yet household names. Club rugby is vital to the rugby ecosystem; however, its reach remains limited to the core fans.
“There is a clear gap for a global, innovative competition that can broaden rugby’s appeal and inspire a new generation of fans — and our data consistently supports that need.
“As per many other sports, evolution is critical to broadening its appeal, finding new talent and realising commercial value. Cricket, Formula 1, football, sailing, golf, boxing, darts – to name a few – are all finding new ways to tell new stories to new audiences and building a stronger sport. This is rugby’s opportunity.
“The decision to shift our launch to 2028 is a strategic decision based on timing. Launching under compressed timelines would not meet the standards we set for R360, nor would it deliver the long-term commercial impact that the sport deserves.
“From day one, our commitment to players has been unwavering. Many of the world’s best female and male players continue to express strong interest in joining R360. We want them to thrive, not be placed under unnecessary pressure. Ensuring player welfare, supporting their international ambitions, and working collaboratively with the global game remain core to our approach.
“As a board, we remain absolutely determined to bring R360 to life at full scale and with maximum global impact. We’re building something bold and new that will resonate globally – and we cannot wait to show the world in 2028.”
An immediate issue with this new date is that 2028 has already been pencilled for the launch of the inaugural Club World.
