The Rugby Football League (RFL) is considering an offer from an Australian promoter to play a hybrid rugby match against England’s national rugby union team, The i Paper has learned.
The RFL has been offered £1.5million to take part in an exhibition match between the England national rugby league team and the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) England side.
The blockbuster match, tipped for 2026, would take place in London with venues such as Wembley Stadium and Twickenham being considered, and would provide a welcome shot in the arm for a sport that is struggling in the UK.
The exhibition event is the brainchild of Hybrid Rugby, an Australian company led by chairman Paul Franks. The i Paper understands Hybrid Rugby has the support of influential figures in the NRL and some high-profile rugby league individuals in the UK.
Twickenham is seen as one of the possible venues for the proposed clash (Photo: Getty)
Franks visited the UK in November and met with at least one Super League club about the possibility of a professional rugby league club taking on a Premiership Rugby outfit in a game.
Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones confirmed to The i Paper that it had received an offer.
“We have received an enquiry about Hybrid Rugby,” Jones said.
“It suggests there is an opportunity to play a hybrid game in England. We have not assessed this specific approach yet. There are a multitude of things we would need to consider, however if we believe there is some tangible benefit to the sport, we will.
“With this, or any other approach of this nature, any opportunities need to be brought to the RFL or RL Commercial rather than clubs for it be given due consideration.”
The RFU has been approached for comment. Franks declined to comment when contacted.
How hybrid rules work
Under the Hybrid Rugby rules, the laws of both rugby union and rugby league are used to create a special event highlighting the attributes of both codes.
League rules would be used while a team has the ball inside their own defensive half, and then rugby union rules would come into play once the attacking team crosses the halfway line.
Tries would be worth five points, with conversions and penalty goals worth two and drop goals worth one point. A shot clock would be used to restrict the attacking side to 60 seconds of play in each half of the field.
Organisers are confident that the hybrid match would be a crowd-pleaser and attract fans of both codes to see the likes of Maro Itoje and Tommy Freeman against Kai Pearce-Paul and Herbie Farnworth.
A “Clash of the Codes” two-game series was famously held between Wigan Warriors and Bath at Maine Road and at Twickenham in 1996. More than 60,000 fans were attracted to watch the two matches.
In 2015, Hybrid Rugby held a game in Australia between clubs Western Suburbs Magpies and Randwick, which was won 47–19 by the league side. The likes of former Wallaby coaches and players Bob Dywer, John Connolly and Mark Ella, as well as ex-Kangaroo coaches and players Tim Sheens, Bob Fulton and Matt Johns have spoken out previously in support of the concept.
More recently in the UK, a 745 annual hybrid game has been created as an annual rugby union and league cross-code game to raise money for motor neuron disease charities: the second iteration was broadcast live on TNT Sports.
A much-needed windfall
Hybrid Rugby organisers believe the exhibition match would provide a windfall to the RFL and Super League, which is struggling financially.
Super League’s turnover and gross profit decreased in the 2024 financial year compared to the previous year, according to its latest accounts.
The sponsorship income of rugby league’s commercial arm increased in 2024, but it suffered drops in broadcast income, turnover and gross profit, according to its accounts.
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