What is R360? Everything you need to know about the rebel rugby union competition

R360 – it’s the rebel rugby competition that has everyone talking.

With million-dollar offers to poach NRL players - including speculation Zac Lomax will defect after the Parramatta Eels released him from the final three years of his contract - the proposed league has gained a lot of attention. Major rugby nations have united and have said they will ban players who sign with the league from playing in Test matches.

But what exactly is R360, who is behind it, and how will it work? We answer all your questions.

What is R360, and who is behind it?

Despite going after top rugby league players such as Payne Haas and Ryan Papenhuyzen, R360 is a rugby union competition.

Former union international Mike Tindall, who made 75 appearances for England between 2000 and 2011, is the co-founder and public face of the competition.

Meanwhile, Eddie Jones’ right-hand man at the 2023 World Cup, former Wallabies general manager Chris Webb, is in advanced talks with Rugby 360 organisers about a role that could involve recruiting players.

Webb, who worked under Dave Rennie and then Jones in the Wallabies’ inner sanctum from 2019 to 2023, has been speaking to Australian players about joining R360.

What have Rugby Australia and the NRL said about it?

It’s safe to say the governing bodies for rugby union and league in Australia aren’t fans of R360.

Peter V’Landys, chair of the Australian rugby league commission, called it a “competition out of a Corn Flakes box” and has threatened players with 10-year bans if they defect.

“I’m not really concerned about it because that’s what it is, it’s a completely unprofessional — they’ve got no business plan,” he said.

“Any player who goes is really risking their career. They have to look at Salford this year in the Super League; it was a similar situation, the players didn’t get paid.

“So, look, as I said, it’s a competition out of a Corn Flakes box. I’m not going to be concerned about it.”

After Lomax’s release from the final three years of his Parramatta Eels contract on Sunday, V’landys confirmed the NSW Origin winger would be hit with a 10-year ban from the NRL if he joined the new league, but insisted the harsh penalty was designed to punish the “pirates” wanting to gut the NRL rather than the players themselves.

“I’m a custodian of the game – naturally I’ll look after the clubs and the fans, and I’ll take the harshest action not against the players, but against these ‘pirates’ who want to come in and take advantage of the players,” V’landys said.

In response to this, leading player manager Clinton Schifcofske said he will not broker deals with R360 to avoid the prospect of a 10-year NRL ban.

Schifcofske manages Papenhuyzen and Lomax, who are free agents after being released from Melbourne and Parramatta respectively. The pair have been heavily linked to R360, particularly given Schifcofske has previously stated that he has explored opportunities in the competition for his clients.

Rugby Australia is also preparing to blacklist potential Wallabies if they join the rebel competition.

Rugby Australia and seven of the world’s leading rugby union nations issued a joint statement condemning R360 and warning players that participation would make them ineligible for international selection.

The statement – co-signed by the unions of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France, and Italy – is the strongest pushback yet against the privately funded competition.

Argentina and Fiji are the only nations in the men’s top 10 Test rankings who have not signed the statement.

“Each of the national unions will be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection,” the statement said.

How will it work?

Details are minimal at this stage, but this is what we know so far.

• The inaugural season will launch on October 2, 2026, and include six male teams and four female teams.
• In 2027 (a Rugby World Cup year), the 12-event competition will run from April to September and include semi-finals and a final. The men’s competition will expand to eight teams.
• In 2028, the competition will include 16 events running from April to September.
• The franchise locations are expected to be based in London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Madrid.
• The teams will be registered to the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation.
• Players will be granted full releases to play international rugby.
• The players will own their IP and not be owned by their team or R360, maximising their off-field earning capacity.
• A player draft will be held in July of next year, with players will be assigned to teams.
• All players will be able to choose their country of residence and won’t be asked to reside in their franchise location.

Who are they targeting?

NRL clubs have raised concerns of player raids in recent CEO meetings, and V’landys warned that any player attempting to break a contract to join the rival code would face “consequences” from the governing body.

The likes of Melbourne stars Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Lomax have been targeted as potential recruits.

Parramatta coach Jason Ryles told News Corp the club were having a “a serious think about” releasing Lomax from his $650,000-a-year deal before confirmation from the club of this on Monday, despite the NSW Origin and Kangaroos star being signed until the end of 2028.

Privately, the Eels indicated they were unlikely to entertain an early exit without a significant release fee. However, player agents involved in negotiations with R360 say it has been stressed that exit payments from existing contracts will rarely be entertained, and if so, only for marquee recruits.

“The clubs want the NRL to take some pretty harsh action, and we’re considering it,” V’landys said regarding players pushing for early releases.

“If you’ve got a contract with the NRL, we expect you to honour it, and if you don’t, there’s going to be consequences. There’s a number that the clubs want us to do, and we’re looking at it.

“Naturally, we listen to our clubs, and they want to make sure that their players are secured, and we’ll assist them in that regard.”

Haas’ management has postponed a meeting with Rugby 360 bosses despite the rebel competition agreeing to a playing fee of at least $US2 million.

Haas’ management wants to be certain that they are not in breach of NRL rules when they open negotiations with R360.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality, said Haas’ agent told R360 bosses that his client would not be entertaining offers unless they were north of $US2 million ($3 million).

It is suggested R360 bosses did not blink at the asking price and are still keen to talk with Haas.