**Major Upheaval in Rugby: Liverpool and Man Utd Owners Eyeing Revolutionary Breakaway League**
A wave of dramatic change could soon transform the world of rugby, as fresh revelations emerge around a planned breakaway league with backing from some of global sport’s biggest powerbrokers. Reports indicate that the ownership groups behind Liverpool FC and Manchester United are lining up substantial investments in this new competition, promising to reshape rugby’s landscape.
Details reported by Mail Sport suggest the new league, dubbed ‘R360’, is gathering significant momentum, spearheaded by ex-England international Mike Tindall. Tindall has brought together a formidable team of thirty professionals to drive the venture, with an ambitious vision to trigger what he describes as a ‘generational change’ within the sport.
Notably, the project has drawn serious interest from Fenway Sports Group—the US-based sports conglomerate that owns Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox—as well as the Glazer family, who control a major share of Manchester United. These potential investors are said to be looking at franchise opportunities in the new league, which would reportedly comprise eight men’s teams at launch, each carrying a hefty franchise price tag of around £15 million.
In a sign of the venture’s allure, several other corporations—including global energy drink giant Red Bull—are also understood to be exploring involvement. The financial muscle behind the league has raised expectations, with sources indicating that contracts worth up to $1 million (roughly £740,000) per player, per season, are being offered to secure the signatures of some of rugby’s top stars.
According to insiders, preparations are advancing rapidly, with the proposed inaugural season pencilled in for a September start next year. The competition is set to be short and sharp, with only eight fixtures in its first outing before expanding to up to sixteen matches per campaign in future seasons. Organisers are also promising a major reduction in player workload and a minimum twelve-week annual break for all contracted athletes—a policy that could appeal amid longstanding concern about player burnout.
Initial reports indicate that at least ten members of England’s Six Nations squad, who played against Wales in Cardiff earlier this year, have already agreed—at least in principle—to sign up for the new league. However, current Rugby Football Union (RFU) eligibility regulations mean that players joining R360 would have to relinquish their England Test ambitions, as only Premiership-based players can be selected for the national side.
Interestingly, the rebel league’s architects are thought to be keen on working in tandem with international rugby, despite these eligibility hurdles. With salaries and job security on offer far outstripping current market rates, the league’s architects believe a sufficient number of star players may well forgo their Test prospects for the opportunity.
Beyond England, the league plans to be a truly global enterprise. Each franchise is tipped to have a 35-player squad and to be based in major cities including London, Tokyo, Dubai, Cape Town, Boston, and Miami, with two further locations to be confirmed. Games are to be staged worldwide, echoing the itinerant model of Formula One, with an initial commitment to free-to-air broadcasting. A player draft system will establish team rosters, while plans are in the pipeline for a women’s competition as the league grows.
Elsewhere, the weekend has seen more rugby drama. In the southern hemisphere, Australia’s Wallabies have drafted in former All Black prop Aidan Ross ahead of the decisive third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney. Ross, who qualifies for Australia through birth and residency after playing for New Zealand in 2022, has already faced off against the tourists this summer for both the Queensland Reds and an invitational ANZAC side.
Speaking last month, Ross admitted he was open to a Wallabies call-up should the opportunity arise, stating his intention to lay down roots in Australia post-rugby. With his experience and familiarity with Andy Farrell’s Lions, his selection could prove a timely boost for the under-pressure hosts, who must avoid defeat to prevent a series whitewash.
In other squad news, Australian winger Harry Potter has been ruled out of the upcoming Test due to a hamstring injury suffered during their recent loss in Melbourne.
Reflecting on the gripping series, British & Irish Lions’ Huw Jones has described the emotional rollercoaster of selection and triumph, having initially missed out on the starting XV before stepping in for the concussed Garry Ringrose. Jones played a crucial role in the comeback victory, contributing a key try to overturn an 18-point deficit before Hugo Keenan’s late score sealed the result.
With rugby itself at a crossroads—on the field and behind the scenes—the sport appears poised for a period of unprecedented transformation, promising new opportunities and challenges for players, fans, and powerbrokers alike.