The British & Irish Lions are drawing a line in the sand when it comes to the contentious R360 competition, particularly concerning the selection policy for the landmark first women's Lions tour. They have declared a strong stance alongside their constituent unions, stating that any player who participates in R360 will not have a shot at joining the 2027 tour to New Zealand.
"We fully support the position of our constituent unions and will advise that any player who decides to participate in R360 will not be eligible for selection for the 2027 tour," the Lions announced, emphasizing the importance of this historic opportunity for women in rugby. The upcoming women’s tour is described as a "historic moment for women’s rugby," with the Lions underlining the need for stability and certainty in the players' competitive environments.
"With the tour just over a year and a half away, we believe it is important that players who may be selected are playing in established leagues that provide certainty on calendar and playing schedule."
This decision aligns with actions taken by England, Ireland, and Scotland, who have already decreed that R360 participants will be excluded from Test rugby. While Wales has not officially joined this stance, they "support it in principle," pending the outcome of their domestic review.
Although the Lions’ statement doesn’t explicitly mention the men's tours, it is understood that the exclusion also applies to them, with the next men’s tour scheduled for New Zealand in 2029. This marks a significant shift for the Lions who traditionally have not imposed selection restrictions based on the leagues in which players compete.
Adding to the complexity and skepticism around the R360, Bill Sweeney, RFU Chief Executive, expressed his concerns. "We are not hearing any more on it... we can’t get distracted by things we really don’t know enough about," he remarked, highlighting the unresolved issues surrounding the new competition. Sweeney also noted that despite rumors, no commitments from top players have been secured: "I haven’t heard of an England player, male or female, who has actually signed."
As the rugby world watches, the British & Irish Lions are setting precedents, potentially reshaping how international competitions interact with emerging and unregulated leagues.
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The British & Irish Lions are drawing a line in the sand when it comes to the contentious R360 competition, particularly concerning the selection policy for the landmark first women's Lions tour. They have declared a strong stance alongside their constituent unions, stating that any player who participates in R360 will not have a shot at joining the 2027 tour to New Zealand.
"We fully support the position of our constituent unions and will advise that any player who decides to participate in R360 will not be eligible for selection for the 2027 tour," the Lions announced, emphasizing the importance of this historic opportunity for women in rugby. The upcoming women’s tour is described as a "historic moment for women’s rugby," with the Lions underlining the need for stability and certainty in the players' competitive environments.
"With the tour just over a year and a half away, we believe it is important that players who may be selected are playing in established leagues that provide certainty on calendar and playing schedule."
This decision aligns with actions taken by England, Ireland, and Scotland, who have already decreed that R360 participants will be excluded from Test rugby. While Wales has not officially joined this stance, they "support it in principle," pending the outcome of their domestic review.
Although the Lions’ statement doesn’t explicitly mention the men's tours, it is understood that the exclusion also applies to them, with the next men’s tour scheduled for New Zealand in 2029. This marks a significant shift for the Lions who traditionally have not imposed selection restrictions based on the leagues in which players compete.
Adding to the complexity and skepticism around the R360, Bill Sweeney, RFU Chief Executive, expressed his concerns. "We are not hearing any more on it... we can’t get distracted by things we really don’t know enough about," he remarked, highlighting the unresolved issues surrounding the new competition. Sweeney also noted that despite rumors, no commitments from top players have been secured: "I haven’t heard of an England player, male or female, who has actually signed."
As the rugby world watches, the British & Irish Lions are setting precedents, potentially reshaping how international competitions interact with emerging and unregulated leagues.