"LIV Rugby"?

mikedogz

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/19/rugby-union-breakaway-league-proposal?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

mikedogz

They would be better to pump some money into the MLR to get the standard up to at least the Japanese level.

mikedogz

https://sportnation.nz/article/real-concern-rogers-warns-of-rugby-360s-poaching-threat-as-tuivasa-sheck-set

mikedogz

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/09/premiership-r360-delusional-tnt-sports-wbd-rugby-union

sparky

@mikedogz What I've heard about R360.

Saudi money.
Mike Tindall is involved. The agent Mark Spoors is involved too. So too is our old friend Stephen Jones of the Sunday Times.
Some disgruntled NRL players will sign.
Some players based in England but outside the national squad will sign.
It might be part of the reason why France have rotated so many players this year.

I doubt it will get off the ground.

sparky

Mark Spoors is part of Wasserman Rugby (formerly Esportif). He and his team manage several high-profile international players, including:
• Tadhg Furlong
• Ellis Genge
• Richie Mo’unga
• Roger Tuivasa‑Sheck
• Taniela Tupou
+ Reiko Ioane.

Trig

Have also heard Kalyn Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen both interested

antipodean

If RTS is a big signing then it's already dead in the water.

I'll be more convinced once they sign big name forwards and competent coaches.

Bones

@antipodean said in "LIV Rugby"?:

If RTS is a big signing then it's already dead in the water.

I'll be more convinced once they sign big name forwards and competent coaches.

Yeah that's what I said in a discussion, but it was raised that might not be a relatively big contract if it's silly money floating about.

SBW1

$550,000 is not exactly top end money, he could easily get that in Japan or France.

Bones

@SBW1 said in "LIV Rugby"?:

$550,000 is not exactly top end money, he could easily get that in Japan or France.

Who?

gt12

I think it's a fantastic idea.

However, they'll need to associate the teams with destinations, so given the likely locations, what would be a good name for the English team? Maybe the Red Roses? For an Australian team, hmm, what fits, maybe Wallabies? In NZ, I dunno, maybe All Blacks.

Then of course, they'll need to figure out how to contract in and out of those, so maybe they'll need domestic competitions to further tie fans to those teams and help bring talent through. Of course, you can just poach players but to reduce that, maybe a five year stand down when switching? Should be easy enough.

Then of course they'll need to figure out what to do to make more money. Probably they'll need a tournament, but it can't be held too often, maybe every four years? And, of course, because it's American they can just dub the winning team the world champions.