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Rugby’s new breakaway league has to battle "strong headwinds" to succeed

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 4 Jun 2025, 8:36am
Photo / File
Photo / File

Rugby’s new breakaway league has to battle "strong headwinds" to succeed

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 4 Jun 2025, 8:36am

New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol admits their members have been approached to join a new global breakaway club competition. 

R360 —backed by former England international Mike Tindall— is set to launch in 2026. 

The league plans to mirror the likes of sevens and F1, moving from port to port with events at major cities and stadia around the globe. 

Nichol told Mike Hosking they've been across the proposal since last year. 

He says that from a player perspective, it’s about waiting and seeing as competitions like this have to get through some pretty strong headwinds to succeed.  

Nichol says one of R360's proposed calendar blocks from April to June is likely to face strong opposition from the sport's global governors. 

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