Rugby rebels are making moves to lure world-class talent to a breakaway league funded by American and Middle Eastern cash.
In scenes similar to golf’s battle with LIV, a group of entrepreneurs are ready to offer big-money packages to unsettled England stars who are understood to have internally discussed boycotting last month’s training camp in Spain.
International fund-raising is still underway and the game’s biggest players – in England and beyond – are having their heads turned by the franchise concept that could launch in 2026.
Non-disclosure agreements have been signed to protect the identities of players interested in the globe-trotting competition, which has been proposed for both men and women.
One source suggested the competition could operate like a ‘touring circus’, playing fixtures around the world, while taking the sport into new, untapped markets.
A slimmed-down fixture list has been put on the table, offering an attractive alternative for international players who have grown tired with overloaded match schedules.
Jamie George (right) admitted recently that there are certain parts of the welfare agreement that ‘we would like revisiting in 12 months’ time’
England rugby chiefs are aware of the breakaway movement are planning to jazz up their own domestic competition
The new breakaway, globe-trotting competition has been proposed for both men and women
England’s frontline stars were left frustrated by welfare elements of the new Professional Game Partnership between club and country, with captain Jamie George recently saying: ‘I think it is a good deal on all fronts but there are certain parts of the welfare piece we would like revisiting in 12 months’ time.
‘The RFU have committed to making sure that is the case. As ever, the international schedule is crazy.
‘The intensity of games and the guaranteed rest is something we wanted to make sure we revisit.
‘There’s going to be a study going on behind the scenes to allow for different conversations like that in 12 months’ time.’
The competition could open the door to new innovations, such as transforming scrums into a box-office contest with countdowns and specialist referees.
One inside source has suggested to Mail Sport that the costs of the proposal could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, facing expensive contract buyouts and legal battles if the discussions progress.
The move would blow open the sport’s traditional structures and could leave players facing difficult decisions about their international futures.
It is likely to be met with fierce resistance by World Rugby and its member unions, who could try to block the move entirely.
World Rugby’s new president Brett Robinson (left) has already spoken of the need for change
One proposal has been to introduce an annual ‘super-draft’ system similar to that of the NFL or MLB
However, speaking after his election as World Rugby’s new president on Thursday, Australia’s Brett Robinson admitted that change is necessary: ‘I was very clear leading into the elections that the financial sustainability of our member unions is at crisis point, so we have to find ways, collectively, to deal with that.
‘I was really clear about the need to grow the game, while ensuring our core markets are in a good place.’
English rugby chiefs are already aware of the breakaway movement and they are exploring alternative plans to jazz up their own domestic competition to increase its marketability.
Having lost a number of box-office stars to France and Japan, one proposal has been to introduce an annual ‘super-draft’ which sees clubs pick a new recruit from a centrally contracted pool of household names.
Such a concept would be similar to the famous draft system in American sports such as in the NFL and Major League Baseball, which sees the draft broadcast on TV with Avengers-style jeopardy.
Mail Sport understands that some of rugby’s leading figures have recently met with former Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward to discuss ideas – although Woodward has no direct involvement in the rebel league as it stands.
Investors in Qatar are keen for rugby to join the list of sports already hosted in the Middle East such as Formula One, golf and boxing, with bids placed to host the new Nations League competition which is set to launch in 2026.
Qais Al Dhalai, the president of Rugby Asia, recently told Mail Sport: ‘Things will fall into place when there is investment into the sport. Players will start to come to the Middle East.
Mail Sport understands that some of rugby’s leading figures have met with ex-Man United chief Ed Woodward (left)
Former World No 1 Jon Rahm snapped up a reported £394million for signing with golf’s LIV tour
‘Fijian players go to the Top 14 to play and study in France. When the investment comes to the Middle East, talented players will start to come. This is the formula.’
The potential breakaway league could see the sport follow in the footsteps of golf, which created the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV in 2021.
LIV Golf attracted the sport’s biggest superstars through mammoth pay cheques paid for by the Middle Eastern nation, with former world No 1 Jon Rahm snapped up for a reported $500million (£394m) and Phil Mickelson for £160m.
Its implementation blew the sport wide open, seeing the game’s biggest stars leave the traditional PGA Tour for money that was simply too good to turn down.
At a time when rugby, both at the club and international level, is struggling to remain financially viable, there is no doubt the prospect of earning additional revenue would be attractive to the game’s top players.
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