British & Irish Lions Plan Ban On R360 Players To Stop Red Roses Jumping Ship

The British & Irish Lions are readying to travel nan illustration of nan biggest unions by banning players who subordinate R360 successful a move designed chiefly to forestall an exodus of England’s Red Roses stars to nan rebel league.

Eight of nan 12 tier-one unions, led by England and New Zealand, announced past period that they would not prime R360 players, and nan Guardian has learned that nan Lions will travel suit. Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa besides came retired successful support of a ban, but Wales and Argentina did not owed to smaller subordinate pools and weaker home leagues.

A number of England’s World Cup winners are starring targets for R360, pinch nan full-back Ellie Kildunne saying past period that she is “open to anything”. With nan adjacent tourney 4 years away, location are concerns astatine nan Rugby Football Union successful peculiar that salaries of up to £270,000 successful nan franchise title will beryllium excessively bully to move down, contempt nan imaginable of an world ban. The net headdress for an full squad successful Premiership Women’s Rugby this play is conscionable £255,000.

The 4 location unions, which are each 25% shareholders successful nan Lions, however, are hoping nan first women’s circuit to New Zealand successful September 2027 will springiness them further leverage complete players reluctant to miss retired connected that historical event.

John Mitchell, nan England caput coach, said aft nan World Cup last triumph against Canada that he would beryllium unfastened to starring nan Lions connected their three‑Test circuit against nan Black Ferns, while nan squad is apt to beryllium dominated by nan Red Roses, who person won 33 successive matches since losing against New Zealand successful nan 2021 World Cup final. Any Lions squad deprived of England players would beryllium importantly weakened and consequence devaluing nan tour.

The Lions are understood to person contacted R360 successful an effort to agent informal discussions without getting a meaningful response. R360’s plans for nan women’s title are unclear beyond its first committedness to group up 4 franchises, and it has yet to corroborate dates contempt readying to motorboat adjacent September.

A draught itinerary circulated by R360 had nan first matches successful nan 2027 title successful a artifact betwixt April and June, which would conflict pinch nan Women’s Six Nations, though sources progressive insist nan schedule has since changed. Despite readying to motorboat successful autumn 2026, location will beryllium nary conflict pinch nan Women’s Lions circuit 12 months later, arsenic nary R360 games will return spot during that play because of nan men’s Rugby World Cup, opening connected 1 October.

While location is immoderate sympathy for nan players among nan location unions and nan Lions because of nan money perchance connected connection successful R360, sources progressive successful their deliberations person indicated they person to enactment to protect nan primacy of world rugby.

In its connection past period outlining its guidance to R360, nan RFU referred to concerns for nan women’s crippled being 1 of nan main factors successful its deliberations. “We person invested millions into Premiership Women’s Rugby, cardinal contracts, bonuses, and capacity support to create nan women’s and girls’ crippled present and played a pivotal domiciled successful negotiating nan building of nan caller WXV world series,” it said. “We cannot truthful support this proposition.”

The recently appointed Lions women’s committee, chaired by nan erstwhile England subordinate and Lions committee personnel Carol Isherwood, is understood to person bought into this approach.

The Lions and R360 declined to comment.