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Mike Tindall has told players that three years’ worth of funding has been secured in order to kick-off rugby’s R360 rebel league in 2026.
The pre-contract conditions stated funding must be readied by September 30 and organisers contacted 200 players on the morning of the deadline to confirm the finances are indeed in place.
England World Cup winner Tindall, one of R360’s key bosses, sent the message via an emailed video attachment, revealing that ‘a truly exciting global roster of male and female players has now been secured’.
Head of recruitment Leigh Hinton sent a more detailed letter to player agents having targeted the likes of Antoine Dupont, Fin Smith and Henry Slade. R360 want to work alongside Test rugby, although the RFU are likely to block any rebel players from playing for England.
Contracts of up to £750,000 are on the table, promising greater priority for player welfare through a lighter - but more global - fixture schedule.
A spokesperson for R360 told Daily Mail Sport: ‘We’re truly excited to launch our global league next year, which has been designed to showcase the best rugby players in the world, capture the imagination of fans and grow our sport in the years ahead.’
Mike Tindall is one of the co-founders of rugby's controversial R360 breakaway league
Tindall was a World Cup winner with England in 2003 and played in the final against Australia
France star Antoine Dupont is one of the most high-profile names being targeted by R360
There will also be a growing focus on women’s competition, following the success of the recent World Cup. Securing approval from World Rugby will be key for the competition.
Part of the investment has come from Switzerland, although full details remain confidential.
Asked specifically about R360’s involvement with the women’s game, World Rugby CEO Alan Gillian said: ‘Does rugby, and in this case women's rugby, need new investment? Absolutely.
'I think what we've also seen in the last five weeks is does rugby need to tear up all of its existing structures and do it completely differently? I'd argue no.
‘I think we've seen that at the international game. At a World Cup, women's rugby can deliver incredible quality of product, incredible audiences, incredible experiences.
'So how do we bring new investment in a way that really works with that and not potentially works against that?
‘I think there's a challenge. We know that a number of the nations playing in this Rugby World Cup have already said, and will continue to say, players who play in other leagues that aren't fitting with the schedules they have won't be chosen for their international teams.
England back Fin Smith is another player the breakaway league have their eye on
'That's got to be a concern because we want them to see the best players in the world playing on the biggest stages.
‘With the WXV Global Series, hopefully that certainty that we've provided now to national teams, federations, but also ultimately through to players is going to create that platform for investment to come into the sport in a way that I think can be additive to what we've got.
'Hopefully R360 can be part of that.’
