In the heated battle against the fledgling R360 league, Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach has voiced a clear preference for the traditional allure of Test rugby over the financial temptations of the breakaway competition. As unions worldwide band together, the message is crystal clear: choosing R360 could spell the end of an international career.
The upstart R360 league, spearheaded by Mike Tindall, is shaking up the rugby world with its promise of hefty paychecks and a shorter season, set to kick off in October 2026. It plans to feature eight men’s and four women’s teams battling it out over four months. Rugby stars such as Henry Slade and Antoine Dupont are being targeted for its inaugural season, setting the stage for a significant disruption in the rugby landscape.
However, national rugby unions from powerhouse nations like New Zealand, Australia, and England have issued stark warnings. They've announced that any player joining R360 will be barred from international play, underscoring their commitment to preserving the existing rugby ecosystem which supports everything from grassroots to elite levels.
"As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,"
Reinach himself remains unswayed by the lucrative offers, emphasizing the honor of playing for one’s country. The 35-year-old scrum-half dismissed the new league’s current progress and questioned its viability, signaling a deep-seated loyalty to the traditional pathways of rugby that many players dream of from a young age.
"What we play for here is unreal and is every boy’s dream. I don’t know what their plans are, I don’t know how they’re going to do it; it doesn’t look like they are. The boys know where we want to go. Every one of us."
This strong stance from players like Reinach and the concerted effort from international unions might just curtail the ambitions of R360, as the tug-of-war between traditional rugby values and the allure of new, profit-driven competitions continues to unfold.
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In the heated battle against the fledgling R360 league, Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach has voiced a clear preference for the traditional allure of Test rugby over the financial temptations of the breakaway competition. As unions worldwide band together, the message is crystal clear: choosing R360 could spell the end of an international career.
The upstart R360 league, spearheaded by Mike Tindall, is shaking up the rugby world with its promise of hefty paychecks and a shorter season, set to kick off in October 2026. It plans to feature eight men’s and four women’s teams battling it out over four months. Rugby stars such as Henry Slade and Antoine Dupont are being targeted for its inaugural season, setting the stage for a significant disruption in the rugby landscape.
However, national rugby unions from powerhouse nations like New Zealand, Australia, and England have issued stark warnings. They've announced that any player joining R360 will be barred from international play, underscoring their commitment to preserving the existing rugby ecosystem which supports everything from grassroots to elite levels.
"As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,"
Reinach himself remains unswayed by the lucrative offers, emphasizing the honor of playing for one’s country. The 35-year-old scrum-half dismissed the new league’s current progress and questioned its viability, signaling a deep-seated loyalty to the traditional pathways of rugby that many players dream of from a young age.
"What we play for here is unreal and is every boy’s dream. I don’t know what their plans are, I don’t know how they’re going to do it; it doesn’t look like they are. The boys know where we want to go. Every one of us."
This strong stance from players like Reinach and the concerted effort from international unions might just curtail the ambitions of R360, as the tug-of-war between traditional rugby values and the allure of new, profit-driven competitions continues to unfold.