The competition will primarily interest a northern hemisphere audience, and will target players currently in the Investec Champions Cup (formerly Heineken Cup), the premier European competition.
If you want to sell a new competition to European rugby fans you need players known to them. But they will want international players to boost interest and television rights in other parts of the world in this global-based sports economy.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.Credit: Getty
There’s even talk of a pacific-based team.
Finding proper answers about exactly where R360 is at is like trying to catch air, but a few things are known.
By September, organisers need three things to secure the proposed Saudi Investment Fund and other private equity funding.
It needs the eight franchises purchased and formalised as legal entities, a broadcast partner on board and the two hundred players signed. It is believed they have the commitment of 140 players.
While this is a huge problem for rugby, with the World Cup looming in 2027, it’s also a big problem for the NRL.
With the Perth Bears entering in 2027 and PNG scheduled for 2028, the NRL needs players. As many as it can get.
With 17 teams right now the playing ranks are already thin, and some positions are desperately short such as halves.
When it grows to 19 teams, a further 70-odd players are needed.
Even ten players signing with R360 would hurt.
The live example is LIV Golf. In Australia, many think it’s a success because the Adelaide event is so popular. But, it’s a rarity and is about the only one.
In the United States, it is an absolute disaster. Poor crowds are an issue, but the bigger issue is television viewing numbers.
On Fox Sports in the US, the average number tuning in is about 175,000. Some Sundays have drawn about 400,000. That’s compared to an average PGA Tour audience of about three million on CBS and NBC.
The LIV number is beyond disastrous and tanking worse than the careers of many who signed their careers-away to play. Luckily for them, they were paid up front as for many their form and relevance has disappeared without a trace. Cam Smith anyone?
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Whether LIV is working or not doesn’t matter – what matters is they signed great players such as Phil Mickelson, our own Smith and Marc Leishman, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau etc and took them out of the PGA Tour and the Tour is now weaker for it.
Threats to the NRL have come and gone before, and it has survived. It always will.
But right now, times are delicate. Some teams, such as the Wests Tigers have been appalling for years and new teams are coming.
The game needs all hands on deck.
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