A new breakaway global league is chasing the signatures of the world’s top 300 male and female rugby players.

‘R360’ is being driven by England World Cup winner Mike Tindall (pictured), former Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper and the lawyer behind the creation of the IPL T20 cricket tournament and the rebel LIV Golf.

According to The Telegraph, it will have a “grand prix” model of 12 franchises visiting 16 glamorous venues, including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Nou Camp and Sao Paulo.

There have reportedly been multiple bids for franchises from team owners in other sports, including the NFL and Formula One, while heads of agreement have been signed with dozens of players, with the league targeting the top 300 male and female players.

R360 will take place in two windows – April to June and then August to September – which the league says will allow players to keep representing their countries, although the latter period clashes with the Rugby Championship.

R360 states that it wants to turn rugby into a summer sport and give the game “its Super Bowl moment”.

“Rugby is feeling the fallout of the last few years with financial mismanagement, declining investment in the club game and a product that is struggling to evolve,” said Tindall, R360’s co-founder and sporting director, in a brochure sent to investors seen by The Telegraph. 

“Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game. Rugby’s lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market.”

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