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Eight Leading Unions Warn R360 Players Will Be Barred From Test Rugby

The joint ultimatum signals a resolve to protect the primacy of international rugby over a privately run circuit.

Damian Willemse of South Africa scores a try during their Rugby Championship match against New Zealand at Sky Stadium on 13 September 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. Unsourced reports have linked several unnamed Springbok players to the breakaway R360 league. (Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images)
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Overview

  • England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa issued a coordinated statement saying players who join R360 would be ineligible for national selection.
  • The unions cited unanswered questions on player welfare, how the league fits the domestic and international calendars, and a model they say funnels profits to a small elite at the wider game’s expense.
  • The International Rugby Players Association advised members to seek guidance before signing, and the competition does not currently have World Rugby regulatory approval.
  • R360 responded that it will release players for Tests, aims to reduce match load with a condensed grand prix-style season, and intends to seek World Rugby sanction next summer for a planned 2026 launch.
  • Wales and Argentina did not sign the statement, and media reports say the privately backed series has courted top rugby and NRL stars with lucrative offers for franchises in multiple global cities.