Sale Sharks co-owner Michelle Orange has delivered a stark warning about the proposed R360 competition.
Orange argues the breakaway venture could kill off club rugby around the world and that the women’s game faces potentially the gravest danger.
R360, fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, aims to launch in October 2026 with eight men’s and four women’s teams competing on a global, F1-style circuit. But Orange says the concept would drain clubs of their talent and incentives to invest.
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“If R360 were to happen, I honestly think it will be the death knell for Premiership club rugby – not just in England, I think around the world,” Orange told BBC Sport. “We’re certainly not going to keep investing all that money into building a pathway, only for Mike Tindall every three or four years to take the cream off the top of the milk again.”
Orange stressed that owners like herself are already covering significant losses.
“Most clubs are being supported by wealthy individuals who love the sport, but certainly aren’t that stupid to keep creating a conveyor belt that’s going to fund R360 and get no compensation for it.”
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While R360 hopes to attract global stars and new audiences, it has yet to gain approval from World Rugby, and eight major Test nations have already banned R360-contracted players from international selection.
But Orange believes the biggest damage would be felt in the women’s game, especially England’s fast-growing Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).
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“I think it would absolutely kill the women’s game off,” she said. “Mike Tindall is going to need 120 to 140 players to make his league successful for the four female franchises. If you take 140 girls out of the PWR, it would decimate us.
“The player pool isn’t good enough yet to sustain such a loss. I don’t want to deprive athletes from earning more – they deserve it – but this could be the end of the league.”
Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
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