Mzansi Rugby League founder Renaldo Bothma has stepped away from the project.

The former Namibia captain and ex-Bulls loose forward launched the MRL in September.

The 16-team nationwide competition is meant to kick off in 2027.

It aims to provide a pathway for younger players within the South African rugby landscape to the top, and offer salaries of R15,000 to R30,000 per month.

BOTHMA: MRL not a rebel league

Bothma said at the time that the league had been unfairly branded as a breakaway by SA Rugby and met with resistance from the players’ trade union, MyPlayers.

Earlier this month, MLR took SA Rugby and MyPlayers to court.

MORE: New league sues SA Rugby

In a post on Instagram, Bothma announced that he’s no longer spearheading the project and that he’d be focusing on other ventures that align more closely with his long-term vision.