"LIV Rugby"?

sparky

BBC long- read on R360 and whether it will get off the ground.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/ce3yllp1geno

MiketheSnow

Dead in the water IMHO

DaGrubster

@MiketheSnow said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Dead in the water IMHO

Yes, it seems to be in its current guise. Earliest they could try to start the league would be 2028.

Saudi’s will have lost interest long before then.

JA

Private equity in search of a home.

They tried to follow the IPL and Liv golf playbook without understanding why those particular endeavours worked (or sort of worked).

IPL – captive 1b+ Indian market who support any form of cricket. Liv – individual sport, so easy to pick off top golfers with massive contracts to give it instant credibility. Also, you can throw a superstar cricket team together and be half decent – it’s the extreme opposite end of the scale with rugby.

I remember when the Rugby 360 reports started appearing. Almost the same time, on the Bill Simmons podcast he talked about the same proposal – new league forming outside of the official channels, top players signing massive contracts to be part of it, global tour, it’s real, it’s coming etc etc.

Basically every talking point from Rugby 360, except he was talking about it happening with the NBA players.

Kruse

Plenty of numbers which don't make much sense.
Target of 200 mens' players, for 8 teams... Squads of 25?
Over 160 mens' players already signed, 75% of which have played test rugby in the past 2 season... 120 current-ish international players? Bullshit. Unless it's the entirety of the Georgia, Spain, Romania teams, with a few Pacific-Islanders in there.

sparky

I'd heard so little about Rugby360 in recent weeks that I'd forgotten it was a thing.

Anyway there's a new article on it:

https://therugbypost.com/r360-and-the-fight-for-rugbys-soul/

MiketheSnow

Reads like the Labour Party is behind it

Drips with desperation

Dan54

I been trying to work out what NZ players would be going. I can see s few who are at end of career in Japan.
Suspect maybe Ethan Blackadder, as it seemed strange he signed for one more season when not wanted for ABs, perhaps he finishes at end of Super. Can see perhaps the likes of David Havili, Angus Ta'avoa and the olk cashing in (I was surprised Ta'avoa hung around for another super season), the likes of Ennor etc , but genuinely not sure who is signed with NZR really anyway. Are the oldtimers like Rettallick and A Smith going to go around again, and of course let's not forget Nonu!!:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
Doen't matter who etc, I very seriously doubt I will ever watch a game.

Nepia

I really don't get how this is still around. Who is going to watch this? Who would care about this? Does anyone on the Fern think this is a good idea?

No one who in NZ who seriously wants to be an AB is going to join.

This isn't like the Superleague in the 90s, that was based on established clubs (and new clubs in established regions) whereas this appears to the harlem globe trotters of rugby. It's not like T20 where players can just go for a short competition in the country with biggest fanbase in the sport.

Canes4life

So there are reports that 10 NRL players have signed up to Rugby360 including the likes of Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen.

sparky

Rumours that quite a few of the World Cup winning England women's squad have signed up for Rugby 360.

booboo

@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Rumours that quite a few of the World Cup winning England women's squad have signed up for Rugby 360.

Not sure that's going to convince me to fork out for the product.

Nepia

@booboo said in "LIV Rugby"?:

@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Rumours that quite a few of the World Cup winning England women's squad have signed up for Rugby 360.

Not sure that's going to convince me to fork out for the product.

Maybe in isolation, but don't forget you get to combine that with league players learning how to play rugby.

Higgins

@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Rumours that quite a few of the World Cup winning England women's squad have signed up for Rugby 360.

I'm picking they won't win many lineouts against the likes of Etsebeth.

sparky

The Players Unions have told players to seek legal advice before signing Rugby 360 contracts.

It's a polite way of telling Mike Tindall that he and his Rugby 360 mates are fucking clowns.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0m43d30rjko

sparky

Mike Tindall's really bad day just got even worse.

England, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Italy and South Africa will ban from their national squad anyone involved in Rugby 360.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0m43d30rjko

sparky

The absolute killer line is "R360 has given no indication how it intends to manage player welfare........."

Canes4life

@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Mike Tindall's really bad day just got even worse.

England, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Italy and South Africa will ban from their national squad anyone involved in Rugby 360.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0m43d30rjko

Tindall has a better chance of converting NRL and league players at this rate.

gt12

@Canes4life said in "LIV Rugby"?:

@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:

Mike Tindall's really bad day just got even worse.

England, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Italy and South Africa will ban from their national squad anyone involved in Rugby 360.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0m43d30rjko

Tindall has a better chance of converting NRL and league players at this rate.

Why not just make a hybrid of rugby league anyway? Easier game to understand for an international audience and those that sign up to watch / go are not likely to be hardcore rugbyheads anyway. Redefine the game for a different audience.

Canes4life

lol rumours online suggest Ardie was offered 12 million to join this league.

The Silver Fern

"LIV Rugby"?