Mike Tindall's R360 Rugby Project Faces Exclusion by RFU and IRPA

Mike Tindall's ambitious breakaway rugby league, R360, which aims to revolutionize the sport with 12 new franchise teams and lucrative player contracts, has faced significant opposition from key rugby organizations. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) plans to bar male players who sign with R360 from representing England and is collaborating with other unions to possibly extend this ban internationally. The International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) has refused to endorse the competition or any related contracts, stating that references to IRPA in R360's contracts are unauthorized and that the league lacks World Rugby regulatory approval. Despite attracting over 200 players interested in contracts of up to £740,000 a season, R360 remains without official backing, and detailed information about the competition is still outstanding. These developments represent major setbacks for Tindall and his partners, including Stuart Hooper and Mark Spoors, who aim to deliver generational change in rugby. The resistance from governing bodies underlines the challenges facing breakaway leagues in gaining legitimacy and player support.