In a fiery tirade against the new R360 rugby league, Sale Sharks co-owner Michelle Orange has sounded the alarm, claiming this league could spell disaster for club rugby globally, with the women's game at critical risk. The brainchild of former England centre Mike Tindall, R360 is set to kick off with a bang in 2026, showcasing a mix of men’s and women’s teams in a glamorous, globe-trotting format. But not everyone’s buying into the hype.
Orange paints a doomsday scenario where R360 acts like a high-powered vacuum, sucking out top talent and leaving traditional clubs high and dry.
"If R360 were to happen, I honestly think it will be the death knell for Premiership club rugby – not just in England, I think around the world,"
Orange disclosed in a candid chat with BBC Sport. She added a spicy jab directed at Tindall’s new venture,
"We’re certainly not going to keep investing all that money into building a pathway, only for Mike Tindall every three or four years to take the cream off the top of the milk again."
While R360 promises to be a glitzy affair aiming to rope in global stars and captivate new audiences, it's still hanging in limbo without the nod from World Rugby. Plus, with eight major Test nations slamming the door shut on R360-contracted players from international games, the league's future stars might just find themselves in a rugby purgatory.
Yet, it’s the potential carnage in the women’s game that really gets Orange’s goat. The burgeoning Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) could see its lifeline cut if Tindall’s league pulls 140 of its top players.
"I think it would absolutely kill the women’s game off,"
she lamented. Despite her support for players earning their due, Orange fears this exodus could be a critical blow: "The player pool isn’t good enough yet to sustain such a loss."
As the debate rages on, the rugby world watches with bated breath. Will R360 soar to new heights or take club rugby down with it? Only time will tell, but for now, the stakes couldn't be higher, especially for the women’s leagues that stand to lose the most.
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In a fiery tirade against the new R360 rugby league, Sale Sharks co-owner Michelle Orange has sounded the alarm, claiming this league could spell disaster for club rugby globally, with the women's game at critical risk. The brainchild of former England centre Mike Tindall, R360 is set to kick off with a bang in 2026, showcasing a mix of men’s and women’s teams in a glamorous, globe-trotting format. But not everyone’s buying into the hype.
Orange paints a doomsday scenario where R360 acts like a high-powered vacuum, sucking out top talent and leaving traditional clubs high and dry.
"If R360 were to happen, I honestly think it will be the death knell for Premiership club rugby – not just in England, I think around the world,"
Orange disclosed in a candid chat with BBC Sport. She added a spicy jab directed at Tindall’s new venture,"We’re certainly not going to keep investing all that money into building a pathway, only for Mike Tindall every three or four years to take the cream off the top of the milk again."
While R360 promises to be a glitzy affair aiming to rope in global stars and captivate new audiences, it's still hanging in limbo without the nod from World Rugby. Plus, with eight major Test nations slamming the door shut on R360-contracted players from international games, the league's future stars might just find themselves in a rugby purgatory.
Yet, it’s the potential carnage in the women’s game that really gets Orange’s goat. The burgeoning Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) could see its lifeline cut if Tindall’s league pulls 140 of its top players.
"I think it would absolutely kill the women’s game off,"
she lamented. Despite her support for players earning their due, Orange fears this exodus could be a critical blow: "The player pool isn’t good enough yet to sustain such a loss."As the debate rages on, the rugby world watches with bated breath. Will R360 soar to new heights or take club rugby down with it? Only time will tell, but for now, the stakes couldn't be higher, especially for the women’s leagues that stand to lose the most.