Lions trio Ellis Genge, Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock on rugby's new rebel R360 competition - and what impact lucrative league can have on their future England careers

Daily Mail​

a day ago

England and Lions star Ellis Genge has admitted the country's top players will have a big decision to make on their contractual futures if the money on offer from rugby's proposed breakaway league proves too good to turn down in years to come.
But Genge and his fellow Test stars Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock have insisted that representing Steve Borthwick 's national side remains the primary driver when it comes to their ambitions.
The new rebel R360 competition - being led by ex-England World Cup winner Mike Tindall - wants to create 'generational change in rugby' by creating 12 new franchise teams made up of the best players from around the world.
While plans for the new concept would retain the importance and prestige of the international game and organisers are understood to have left gaps for existing club structures to continue, it is clear R360 could prove to be a potential game changer and significantly shake-up the established order.
'I'd never want to leave England behind, but I would say 90 per cent of rugby players have to work for the rest of their lives after rugby,' said Genge.
'If they reached the echelons they have in this sport in others, I'd say they probably wouldn't. I think if the money is that lucrative, then people have decisions to make don't they? I wouldn't hold it against them.'
Genge revealed he had discussed the R360 proposal with the competition's organisers but had not signed any agreement to join given he is under contract with his club Bristol.
'I don't know if it's actually got legs to get off the ground, but I think anything that stirs the pot and makes people start asking questions and think of new ideas is positive for the game,' Genge said of R360, which would involve a 16-match season that would be played in two separate windows in spring and summer.
'There is no smoke without fire. I'm glad something is happening in rugby rather than it just stagnating and everyone moaning.
'But I'm sure now people want to put money into it, everyone will moan.'
MailSport understands leading figures at both the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby are relaxed about R360's plans to disrupt the game, while welcoming the competition Tindall's enterprise looks likely to provide.
In September last year, the two parties signed the professional game partnership - the system by which English rugby is now run.
As part of the deal - which runs for the next eight years - it is stipulated that to continue to represent England in that time, players must be primarily employed by Premiership clubs.
'At some point, money probably does talk but playing for England is my main concern. You never want to jeopardise that situation,' said Northampton wing Freeman.
'If I'm out the loop of the England set-up for a number of years, then maybe it's different.' Freeman confirmed the money on offer from R360 for him to stop playing for England would have to be 'off the charts.'
He added: 'Running out at Twickenham, there is no feeling like it.'
Genge, Freeman and Pollock will all be part of Andy Farrell's Lions squad in Australia this summer and were winners at Tuesday night's Premiership awards evening.
'We're very focussed on playing for our country,' breakthrough player of the season Pollock said. 'As Tommy said, it would be a lot to give that up. 'I've not experienced playing multiple times for my country, so that's something I'm working towards.'
Genge is set to return for Bristol for their crunch Premiership play-off clash at Bath on Friday after missing last weekend's win over Harlequins. Another England man in Tom Curry will also be fit for Sale who face Leicester in the other semi-final on Saturday.