Mike Tindall's breakaway R360 league secures funding for 2026 start

Proposals have suggested that the league will consist of 12 franchise teams hosted as part of a global circuit, in similar fashion to Formula One. It also looks set to visit some of the world’s most attractive city locations as part of this.

According to the Daily Mail, organisers had until September 30 to meet pre-contract financial conditions, and on the morning of the deadline, more than 200 players were contacted to confirm that three years’ worth of backing is in place.

Tindall, one of the main people behind R360 and a World Cup winner in 2003, shared the update in a video message, also saying that, “A truly exciting global roster of male and female players has now been secured.”

Head of Recruitment Leigh Hinton has followed up with agents, having set his sights on a list of stars including Antoine Dupont, Fin Smith and Henry Slade. Others who are targets for the league include Jac Morgan from Ospreys, who featured for the British and Irish Lions this summer, as well as All Blacks star Ardie Savea, who was reported as being in talks to join the competition by The Telegraph in August. Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman and Ellis Genge are potentially also being targeted, however reports have said that they may not be among the players who have already agreed a contract in principle.

The new league says it intends to work alongside Test rugby, but the RFU is expected to prevent any players who join the new league from playing for England. Where the new competition may leave the domestic game remains to be seen, and Prem squads might have to replace many key players in the summer of 2026.

Impacts could be felt across both codes, with as many as 10 NRL stars claimed to be already committed to it. From Australia top rugby league division, Melbourne Storm's Ryan Papenhuyzen, Parramatta Eels' Zac Lomax and South Sydney's Jye Gray are among those heavily linked with a switch to union to join R360.