Mike Tindall says delayed R360 rugby competition will still launch in 2028

Former England centre Mike Tindall reaffirmed his confidence that the proposed R360 rugby competition will eventually launch, despite a two‑year postponement that moved the inaugural season from 2026 to 2028. The delay, which pushes the start to after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, was portrayed by Tindall as a strategic move to make the tournament more attractive to unions and to address player‑welfare concerns. He said, “Having to push it back to post the 2027 World Cup makes it more appealing to the Unions and makes us more appealing to everyone in the game,” and added that “player welfare is crucial with some having to play 11‑15 internationals a year.”

The project faces strong opposition: eight leading test nations and the British and Irish Lions have warned that players joining R360 would be barred from international rugby, while Australia’s National Rugby League has threatened a 10‑year ban for any player who leaves for the competition. Existing contracts for the original 2026 launch have been cancelled, but Tindall maintains that R360 is intended to complement, not replace, existing tournaments such as the Six Nations and the World Cup, providing a global elite event between those fixtures.