Players would risk England futures in rebel league
Sources have told the BBC there are no plans to rewrite the terms of the PGP - an eight-year deal for which was announced in September 2024 to much fanfare - with one leading administrator saying there is "zero chance" R360 will get off the ground or attract the players required.But plans for the rebel league continue to develop in a bid to overthrow rugby union's world order.In a prospectus seen by the BBC, R360 says it can give the sport its "Super Bowl moment" with a global league that would be the "pinnacle of rugby".
With an aim to attract the top 300 men's and women's players in the world, the franchise competition would be played predominantly in the summer in some of the world's major cities - with London, Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and Cape Town all mentioned.R360 has also vowed to "unlock the potential of the women's game", with American superstar Ilona Maher featuring on the promotional material.But a number of senior figures in the game believe the proposals lack substance and will struggle to get either the approval needed from the governing bodies or the required investment."It's the world 12s again," one source told the BBC, referencing a shorter format of the game that never materialised., externalR360 plans to take place in two blocks – April to June and August to September – and while this would not clash with the men's Six Nations or the November internationals – it would overlap with both the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship and the Women's Six Nations.R360 is headed up by World Cup winner Mike Tindall and former Bath captain and director of rugby Stuart Hooper.Tindall says in the prospectus that R360 is being launched as a response to a club game that has "failed to capture the same level of interest and investment as international rugby"."Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game," Tindall added."Rugby's lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Russell Martin spotted in deep conversation with Rangers chiefs Stewart and Thelwell moments after Motherwell collapse
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN tore into his Rangers players at full-time. Then he caught up with Rangers chiefs Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell for a deep chat to analyse what went wrong against Motherwell. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Patrick Stewart, Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin debrief after the game 2 They had a deep chat at Fir Park The Rangers boss was understandably furious after his side failed to get off to winning ways in the Premiership at Fir Park. After a couple of incredible nights in the Champions League, the Light Blues got off to a stuttering start in the league. Celtic now have the chance to move two points clear after just one game - IF they see past St Mirren in their opener at Parkhead tomorrow. It was groundhog day for Gers fans once again as their team failed to capitalise and pick up a much-needed domestic three points. Speaking after the game, Martin admitted his side were actually lucky to get a point against Jens Berthel Askou's resilient 'Well side. He didn't hold back with his post-match comments as he accused some of his players of having "egos" and warned them they will be "left behind" if they don't get their act together. Then moments later he was spotted at the side of the pitch going through the disappointing game with two men who brought him to Ibrox and have backed him this summer. He stood listening to them both as they had their say on the game, before Martin gave his thoughts on the disappointing display as well. It was an unusual sight to see a manager and key boardroom figures hold a discussion at the side of the pitch at an away venue. But they were all understandably frustrated as their side at one stage looked set to kick off the league camapign with three points. Billy Dodds on returning to Rangers under Barry Ferguson, defeating Mourinho & ending Celtic Park hoodoo The Ibrox club raced into an early lead through skipper James Tavernier who headed home from a Joe Rothwel corner in the first half. Gers were on top for the most part of the first half - albeit with the odd shaky moment - before Motherwell picked up the pace in the second half. Jack Butland was called into action a number of times throughout the game, but couldn't deny Emmanuel Longelo when he pounced in the dying moments. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Sun
Starmer's gesture politics on Palestine and why a vote for Corbyn's new party will put Nigel Farage in Downing Street
JEREMY Corbyn's party hasn't even launched yet and it is already calling the shots with this government – starting with the recognition of Palestine. Keir Starmer is terrified Jeremy and his band of pro-Gaza MPs will hoover up the Muslim vote and cost Labour the next election. 6 6 So in a jaw-dropping speech on Tuesday, he announced the UK will recognise an independent state of Palestine unless Israel signs up to a ceasefire and long-term peace process. It was an astonishing change in position from Keir, who just days earlier dismissed the stance as gesture politics. So what changed? The grim facts on the ground in the Middle East remained the same. Hamas is still refusing to release the Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7 and held in cold, dank tunnels buried deep underneath Gaza. They have been there for more than 660 days. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu still shows no signs of being willing to accept a two-state solution. And innocent civilians in Gaza are paying the price for Hamas' reign of terror. Appalling images of starving children desperately queuing for food have haunted our TV screens and newspaper pages. The only thing that has changed is the news Corbyn is launching a new party to challenge Labour. No10 denies Keir is tearing up 75 years of foreign policy because he is running scared of Jezza. Moved by appalling images of emaciated children, he is launching a last-ditch bid to get Netanyahu to re-engage with the peace process, they say. But recognising the state of Palestine will not put food into the belly of a single hungry child in Gaza. It will not release a single hostage snatched by Hamas as they slept in their beds or danced at a music festival. And it will not bring the Middle East a single step closer to peace. It is the very essence of gesture politics Keir Starmer claims to despise. Biggest danger There is no doubt the new Corbyn party poses a massive challenge for Keir. They plan to target seats with big Muslim populations. There are fears inside Labour that 'London could fall'. Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are being targeted. Zarah Sultana — a former Labour MP who has switched to Corbyn's party — will run against Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in Birmingham Ladywood. The loss of all three of these Cabinet big beasts would be a catastrophe for Labour. Sources close to Jeremy say the party could win around ten seats at the next election. Others reckon the number could be higher — more like 20. But the biggest danger to Labour is not the number of seats the party takes, but the number of votes. Pollsters More In Common say the new party could get ten per cent of the vote, mainly from current Labour and Green supporters. By nibbling at Labour's vote, Corbyn and his crew could hand Nigel Farage's Reform Party a seven-point lead — and a majority in Parliament. So vote Jeremy, get Nigel Farage in No10. Labour Party chiefs are expected to hammer this attack line on a Corbyn-led party. Keir Starmer was also under huge pressure from his own party and base to recognise Palestine. Over 100 Labour MPs had signed a letter demanding he do it. A large chunk of the Cabinet had urged him to do the same. But Keir has spent years painting himself as morally upright and principled standing loftily above the self-interest that motivates others. Now the Prime Minister looks like he is recognising Palestine to save his own political skin. As one party insider put it: 'Keir used to say country first, party second. Where does this decision leave that?' How Ozzy helped Jacob to rock up on reality TV AT first glance Jacob Rees-Mogg and Ozzy Osbourne do not have much in common. One is a pinstripe-suit-wearing former Tory MP best known for his love of Brexit and devout Catholicism. 6 The other was a heavy metal wildman famous for biting the head off a bat on stage and being so desperate for drugs he once snorted a line of ants off the roadside. So it was a bit surprising to see the Moggster dedicate a whole section of his GB News show to tributes to the late, great Prince of Darkness. But Jacob actually owes much of his success to Ozzy. The Osbournes was the original family reality TV show – featuring Ozzy, wife Sharon and children Kelly and Jack. Their lives were slightly bonkers, very loving – and made for intoxicating viewing. Twenty years later, Jacob followed in Ozzy's footsteps with Meet The Rees-Moggs, a reality TV show about his equally eccentric and loving family. Paying tribute to the Brummie rocker on telly, Mogg hailed him as 'a charismatic figure who had great charm and was at the top of his field'. He added: 'We will pray for his soul.' Judging by the rocker's hell-raising antics, I reckon that will take quite a few Hail Marys, Jacob. CUT OFF PHONE THEFTS STRICTLY dancer Michelle Tsiakkas has become the latest victim of mobile phone thieves to go public. The ballroom dancer was walking through London's Covent Garden in June when a thug on an e-bike snatched her phone. 6 When will this criminal scourge end? As a Londoner, I'm appalled to see how muggers are terrorising the capital on their green e-bikes. A phone is stolen in London every six minutes. That is a shameful statistic. When victims call the police they are just fobbed off and told officers are too busy to investigate – even when the phone has a tracker on it. Within days these mobiles are sold on by criminal gangs and end up around the world in places like China. Enough is enough. Police must take a zero-tolerance approach to these phone snatchers. I don't mind the rental e-bikes which have popped up all over the capital. But they are too easy for thugs to fiddle so they can ride them without paying – and to carry out their muggings. These businesses must step up and improve security. And if London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants a legacy he should hurry up and clean up the streets of our capital. Or his time in City Hall will go down in history as one of failure. MENUS JABBED HESTON BLUMENTHAL has revealed he is on the fat jab, and he's not the only one. The celebrity chef says so many Brits are on Ozempic and Wegovy it risks wrecking the restaurant trade. The days of charging diners through the nose for giant tasting menus might be over, he warns. It costs £395 per person to tuck into the 11-course tasting menu at Blumenthal's own restaurant, The Fat Duck. Looks like the fat jab will shrink Heston's bank balance as well as his waistline. POPE'S BLACK MAGIC Pope Leo XIV is said to have toasted St Patrick's Day this year with a pint of the black stuff. 6 Perhaps the pontiff's love of Irish stout should come as no surprise. He is a Yank after all – and they are known to be huge fans of the Irish tipple. We were always big fans of Guinness in my family. My grandad, Jim O'Sullivan (no awards for guessing where he came from), swore by the medicinal qualities of a pint of Guinness. Whenever me or my brother were feeling sick when we were kids he would suggest taking a long glug of Guinness. It is packed full of iron and would get our strength up, he said in his thick Cork accent. It sounds like The Pope agrees. Drinking Guinness is God for you! The mega-rich Brits are said to be part of a consortium trying to take over the controversial porn site. The property tycoons are considering pumping hundreds of millions of pounds in the project. Well, no one ever became poor overestimating our interest in sex. CHEAP AS LIPS CLOBBERED by the cost-of-living crisis, us girls are turning to small treats like lipstick to give ourselves a little lift. Britain's 'prestige lip market' has grown by 16 per cent in the past six months, according to the market research company Circana. I never leave my flat without a full face of make-up. But last time I bought a lippy it set me back £30, which isn't exactly cheap as chips. Although I guess it's cheaper than a week in Marbella.
The Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Sun
Signs for a migrant hotel should not have been covered up & Govt must be open about crisis
Why such secrecy at hotel for migrants? BRITAIN'S migrant hotel crisis gets more bizarre by the day. It is outrageous that signs for a four-star Hilton Hotel have been covered up after asylum seekers moved in. Is it to deter protests from a furious local community or to hide the embarrassment of offering luxury lodgings beyond the reach of many taxpayers to all-male illegal arrivals? The turreted Doubletree by Hilton in West London was converted into migrant accommodation in November as part of a deal with the Home Office. Its website shows pictures of luxury rooms which in other Hiltons could go for up to £260 a night and boasts of a gym and top-class restaurant. But of course they are no longer available to the public. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to close down migrant hotels, used by roughly 32,000 asylum seekers, by the end of the current Parliament in 2029. The policy, first introduced by the Tories, has caused national outrage, as yesterday's protests up and down the country showed. But the Government needs to be open about this crisis. Peter Kyle complained to social media firms about posts critical of asylum hotels. Now we see hotel signs being covered. Secrecy is never the right policy in the face of enormous costs to the taxpayer. And the legitimate concerns of voters footing the £4million-a-day bill cannot be covered up as easily as a hotel sign. Moment bus full of asylum seekers are 'snuck into' 4-star London hotel under cover of darkness despite UK-wide protests 1 Glorifying terror This is the grim reality of the war-torn territory that Sir Keir Starmer is proposing to recognise as a state — without even insisting Hamas disarms. These fanatics are not only entrenched in Palestinian life but they are bringing up the next generation to revere Israeli-hating terrorists. They are determined to wipe their neighbour off the map. Why should Britain give them sovereign status? Think again, Sir Keir. Our goalden girls OUR Lionesses have been a beacon of light amidst the summer's economic gloom. The PM is right to hint at honours for their stunning Euros triumph. Last week they each got a winner's medal. Now give them some bling from the King.
