10-06-2025
Rugby's latest rebel league is just another fad
Does anyone remember the World 12s rugby tournament?
This revolutionary new international competition – which had the likes of Steve Hansen and Jake White on board as backers – was set to shake up the professional game.
The mooted global competition featuring 12-a-side teams on new-look franchises was supposed to launch in September 2022 with ambitious suggestions that it would generate something in the region of €300m proving utterly wide of the mark. Does anyone remember the World 12s rugby tournament? Pic: Shutterstock
The whole concept was dead in the water within a year.
So, we're not holding our breath about this supposedly revolutionary 'R360' league which is being spearheaded by former England centre Mike Tindall.
On the surface, there is lots to like about this proposed 12-team franchise competition, essentially rugby's equivalent of LIV golf or cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL). Mike Tindall. Pic: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
More money, less games, NFL-style drafts and a host of exotic host cities would certainly shake things up. What's not to like?
And rugby certainly needs to explore fresh avenues. A host of prominent unions, including England, Wales and Australia, are struggling financially and it's clear that the current club model isn't working.
But this latest breakaway league feels like another fad. World Rugby won't sanction it and R360 is highly likely to join the World 12s on the global scrapheap.
