The new international rugby series, R360, is set to kick off in 2026. One of the founders is former England Captain and 2003 World Cup winner, Mike Tindall. Someone else involved was behind LIV Golf.
The promotion is based in Dubai, so it sounds like oil money is behind things. A key factor is that the contracted players will be able to base themselves anywhere. Many may choose to domicile in Dubai or other zero-tax territories. It is speculated that salaries will be around the million-dollar mark, so no tax on that would be a big pull, I would imagine.
The thing is, players only have a few years to make the money before injury and old age slow them down. It is all very well dangling World Cup glory in front of them, but few will win one, and the players must earn a living.
Next year, the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship is being put on hold, with New Zealand touring South Africa instead. This will be an old school tour, taking weeks. I wonder if this is a reply to the R360 they saw coming?
R360 could work; they have to attract quality players and play an attractive brand of rugby. It will be a circus format, with mini-tournaments being played in key cities. Rugby worldwide is in the doldrums at the moment, and I read somewhere that every Premiership club in England is effectively bankrupt, and in the Southern Hemisphere, crowds are staying away. Games are stale, boring, and the modern rules have killed things. R360 going after Rugby League players suggests they're intending to play a better style of rugby, one that involves a high level of skill and toughness.
If the competition ends up like LIV Golf, though, it will fail. The LIV Golf format is uninteresting, and the player talent is not good enough. I appreciate the effort being made, but I'm not interested in that. I wonder what you all think?
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