The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) were the latest body to land a blow on R360’s ambitions, by announcing that any player who signed up would be banned from their tournaments, notably the National Rugby League (NRL) for 10 years.
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) were the latest body to land a blow on R360’s ambitions, by announcing that any player who signed up would be banned from their tournaments, notably the National Rugby League (NRL) for 10 years.
As ever the rebel league came out swinging, and they found an unlikely backer.
Elsewhere, South Africa and New Zealand revealed details of the latter’s tour to the back-to-back world champions in 2027, the Gallagher PREM, United Rugby Championship (URC) and Top 14 continued, and there was a sign that rugby can never relax when it comes to overseeing the gambling that surrounds it.
Here’s ATR’s favourite soundbites of the week.
“There will always be organisations that seek to pirate our game for potential financial gain. They don't invest in pathways or the development of players. They simply exploit the hard work of others, putting players at risk of financial loss while profiting themselves. They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”
Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'Landys makes clear where they stand:
“R360 is about empowering players, giving them, rugby lovers and the next generation of fans opportunities and new platforms to enjoy the sport we love. We know there is much interest in understanding more about the global series we're building. We remain on plan and look forward to sharing and discussing the detail in the coming months.”
R360 co-CEO Mark Spoors tells us the what, just not the how:
“I think we need it, mate. We need another level that’s an entertainment level that brings more fans and more sponsors and more commercialism into the game to allow our more traditional levels of rugby to continue. We’ve got to be really, really careful about how the game goes forward. International rugby is thriving, and so we’ve got to make sure that keeps thriving. We know in most of the countries now, apart from maybe France and Japan, domestic rugby is really struggling financially.”
Japan coach Eddie Jones is a fan at least:
“I would hate it if Argentina or Australia were just to be thrown away. I would personally not like it. (Not playing against those nations) will be the sad part, but the good part will be that we are playing against a team that’s been ruling world rugby for the last 20 years.”
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus sees both sides of putting The Rugby Championship on hold:
“We’ve an obsession because of our lacklustre performances in it over nine World Cups. We will be the laughingstock of world rugby until we get to a semi-final, and that’s the reality and we’ve got to own that.”
Irish great Brian O’Driscoll adds his thoughts to Ireland’s World Cup quarterfinal hoodoo:
“I fell into gambling, poker and PMU (the French state-controlled betting system). I hid it from everyone close to me. I felt ashamed. When I came to rugby, I didn’t think about it, but once I was outside, I locked myself away in it. I wrote down everything I took in a notebook so I could then replenish the account. I swear I wanted to pay it all back, to the last cent. I knew it wasn’t right, but it was stronger than me, always with the idea of paying back what I was taking.”
Montauban flyhalf Jerome Bosviel admits to stealing from a players fund to feed his gambling addiction:
“It’s support that others don’t get in their countries, rugby is almost like another religion in South Africa, and when we don’t do well, people are angry with us, and we want it that way too.”
Eben Etzebeth doesn't want Springboks fans to change:
“We're on a good run at home, which is good. Now, we'll have to find consistency in our away matches. I feel like we're all on the same wavelength. We have a plan and we're following it. We have to continue that way without getting too ahead of ourselves.”
Montpellier winger Gabriel Ngandebe feels some momentum building:
“He’s quite a special player and a great kid as well. He’s a very balanced and sensible young fella who is obviously going to get a lot of attention. He’s capable of dealing with that, but he’s not the perfect player yet – far from it. He knows he has a lot of things to improve on. His ceiling’s absolutely huge, but let’s enjoy him and let him grow in the right way.”
Saracens DoR Mark McCall, calls for calm after Noah Caluori’s five try PREM performance: