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2w ago

Red Bull joins NFL and F1 owners in bidding for R360 breakaway rugby franchises

Dozens of top international players have signed conditional deals to participate in the grand prix-style competition.

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The radical competition could deal a huge blow to other leagues, such as the Champions Cup
Leading players are already being pushed to the limits, with the toll on their bodies often severe
Freeman said he “would never want to jeopardise playing with England”

Overview

  • R360 plans a global rugby union series with eight men’s and four women’s franchises traveling to 16 host cities in two windows each season.
  • The competition is backed by Mike Tindall, Stuart Hooper and Mark Spoors and aims to launch in 2025 pending sufficient funding and World Rugby approval.
  • Investors from the Premier League, Formula 1, the NFL and Red Bull have submitted bids to buy franchises, reflecting broad commercial interest beyond sovereign wealth funds.
  • Heads of agreement are in place with dozens of leading players, including British & Irish Lions members, on salaries of up to $2 million per year.
  • Organizers say the league will operate in April-June and August-September windows to ensure players remain available for international fixtures under World Rugby regulations.