"LIV Rugby"?
-
@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Behind a paywall but the Daily Telegraph is reporting that "four leading Springboks" and "ten players who have represented England" have signed up to Rugby 360.
Henry Slade, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and George Ford are England names mentioned.
September 2026 is the alleged start date.
Fenway Sports Group who own the Boston Red Soxs and Liverpool FC are apparently involved somehow.
It seems that FSG are starting to working/investing in Saudi Arabia league so they may be adding some expertise to the venture/some type of partnership.
I just cant see how this will attract bradcasting/eyeballs as they are playing at the same time as the normal rugby season.
I think the funding is agreed in principle if they hit certain targets relating to player contracts.
I can see it being very attractive to older players initially but i am not sure if the quality of the sides will match club rugby across the globe
-
@DaGrubster I would have thought their best chance of success is as a league initially for players aged more than 30, stick the games in cities where there are lots of rugby fans but not teams who are part of a current big league e.g. Dubai, Singapore, Monaco, Milan, Hong Kong, Plymouth, Sapporo, Philadelphia, then try to make their product attractive to existing Rugby viewers and fringe viewers by having a fast game, with more ball in play time and fewer daft referee interventions.
-
I’d watch that
-
-
-
@nzzp said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@Kirwan said in "LIV Rugby"?:
What's going on with this, I need an AI summary please
You've come to the right place.
I am mech-zoid-Hitler, LIV are awesome private capital who won't damage Rugby at all. Check your privilege human.
Work is too busy to keep up with which mega-corp is trying to fuck up a sport this week.
-
@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@antipodean said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Let's presume their recruitment as reported is correct, my question remains; who is the audience?
Initially tax exiles in Dubai and compulsive gamblers.
But if it makes the international Rugby established order no longer financially viable and causes cultural disruption, then it will be mission accomplished for its backers (whoever they may be).
Soooo….you’re not sure who the backers are. But you know their main goal is to destroy the current rugby establishment and bring “cultural disruption “ to rugby playing nations?
Riiiight
-
Geez it not often someone comes up with a rugby comp I know I will have no interest in. Waht 8 made up teams wandering around the world playing games, a bit like Harlem Globetrotters? If it takes off will be a hybrid type game within a year to attract crowds who don't know the game.
-
A very good, reasoned op-ed
My take
People will watch the best. To be the best you play Test rugby. If World Rugby controls the requirements for Test Rugby eligibility then R360 is dead in the water.
-
@MiketheSnow said in "LIV Rugby"?:
A very good, reasoned op-ed
My take
People will watch the best. To be the best you play Test rugby. If World Rugby controls the requirements for Test Rugby eligibility then R360 is dead in the water.
The other thing is it takes all the tribalism out of it for me. I a kiwi so will always follow my kiwi teams, really a team with a few kiwis in it playing other teams doesn't get me.
-
@Dan54 said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@MiketheSnow said in "LIV Rugby"?:
A very good, reasoned op-ed
My take
People will watch the best. To be the best you play Test rugby. If World Rugby controls the requirements for Test Rugby eligibility then R360 is dead in the water.
The other thing is it takes all the tribalism out of it for me. I a kiwi so will always follow my kiwi teams, really a team with a few kiwis in it playing other teams doesn't get me.
I generally don't watch rugby if it doesn't involve a team I support. So I can't see myself watching this
-
Latest R360 rumours doing the rounds:
They are working on a broadcasting deal with YouTube / Alphabet.
One of the reasons the WRU are going down to two teams so that lots of Welsh players are heading to R360.
Ardie Savea is their number 1 target as a post-world cup signing.
-
@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Latest R360 rumours doing the rounds:
They are working on a broadcasting deal with YouTube / Alphabet.
One of the reasons the WRU are going down to two teams so that lots of Welsh players are heading to R360.
Ardie Savea is their number 1 target as a post-world cup signing.
Calling bullshit on the WRU rumour
WRU want to go down to 2 due to lack of money and diverting funds to two female teams and female national team
Consequence may be that some Welsh players go to R360
That's an effect not cause
And some may not leave if they become ineligible to play for Wales at Test level
-
RTS talks about his conversations with R360:
'I've had chats': Roger Tuivasa-Sheck confirms R360 interest
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has opened up on playing in the R360 rugby union competition in 2027 as he targets winning an NRL title with the Warriors first.
-
BBC long- read on R360 and whether it will get off the ground.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/ce3yllp1geno
-
Dead in the water IMHO
