Rugby Union is learning of more revelations to form a breakaway league led by Mike Tindall (MBE) and investors who seek to awaken the sport from its current slumber.
A former Rugby World Cup winner and Royal Family member, Tindall is the figurehead of ‘Rugby360’, a venture to form a “global breakaway league for Rugby Union”, designed to be commercialised for modern audiences and media networks.
Tindall is joined by Bath Rugby executives Stuart Hooper and John Loffhagen – the ex-legal counsellor of the LIV Golf Tour – as the architects of “R360”, and its mission to drive a generational change to Rugby Union.
R360’s bold plans were disclosed to the Daily Telegraph to form a global league with a “grand prix” model of 12 franchises visiting 16 international venues, including the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Nou Camp and MorumBIS in São Paulo.
Drawing on the financial ambition and disruption pioneered by the Indian Premier League (IPL) and LIV Golf, R360 proposes a radical shift in how rugby is structured and sold. The league has attracted interest from potential backers across the Premier League, Formula One and the NFL, with multiple bids for franchise slots already under consideration.
At the heart of R360’s offer is a commercial leap forward. Dozens of elite players have signed heads of agreement, with the world’s top 40 stars set to earn more than £1m per season—a level of remuneration currently matched by fewer than five rugby players globally. Tindall argues this is the minimum required for rugby to retain and reward its best talent on a global stage.
“Rugby is feeling the fallout of the last few years,” Tindall writes in the R360 investor brochure. “Financial mismanagement, declining investment in the club game, and a product that is struggling to evolve, clubs around the world are being propped up by the international game.”
“Rugby’s lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market,” he adds. “We need to give the sport its Super Bowl moment.”
A rugby rebirth?
Indeed, the contrast in fortunes between nations is stark. While France and Ireland have sustained growth through aligned systems and deep-rooted club success, England and Wales have struggled.
The collapse of clubs like Wasps and Worcester RC, and tightening salary caps have undermined domestic confidence. Meanwhile, Premiership Rugby has faced ongoing broadcast challenges, with reduced visibility and limited commercial leverage under its current deal with TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport). Rumours of declining viewer engagement and diminished value in the next cycle only compound concerns.
In contrast, R360 promises a fresh format built for digital platforms and global broadcasters, with fast-paced matches, city festivals, and fan-first experiences. The format also complies with Regulation 9 by keeping windows clear for international duties, running April–June and August–September.
R360 draws heavily on the IPL and NFL: city-based franchises, no relegation, cost caps for parity, and a short, dynamic calendar. Its long-term vision includes a women’s league, an initial centralised operation, and expansion to eight franchises by its third year. The league also commits to mental health support, family travel provisions, and opportunities for players to build personal brands globally.
Still, skepticism remains of the League’s goals. Whilst R360 insiders insist the league is “capitalised and happening”, it must still receive backing from a national union and be ratified by World Rugby – a conflict that is likely to be reckoned with
Critics argue rugby’s salvation lies in structural reform, not breakaway leagues. Yet the scale of player support and cross-sport investor interest suggests R360 may succeed where past initiatives failed.
Tindall and his team make no apologies for ambition. As one source put it bluntly: “This is no longer just a concept. It’s capitalised. It’s happening. And it’s going to change the game.”
