This is not about money and more about the ability to represent your country living your dreams.
The breakaway rebel rugby union league R360 which was due to launch next year has as expected delayed the launch until 2028. Th problem this league will have is signing up the players. Money with sports stars is not necessarily going to lure them away from the current international rugby set up.
All the professional players have been told they would be staring at 10 year bans for partaking in this league making them outsiders in their sport. Every player wants to play their sport at the highest level which is international rugby and playing for this league would terminate that dream.
Launching the R360 league in 2028 would make more sense as the Rugby World Cup is in 2027 which will see a handful of players from top teams saying goodbye to the sport through retirement. The R360 League is not going to sign up the top players or any of the up and coming players no matter how much money is being offered. The top players will be earning somewhere between $1-2 million per season so offering them $5 million may be double or triple their annual salary but the 10 year ban would still not entice players to move. You could offer them 10 x their annual salary and still players will not be tempted.
Mike Tindall who is the head behind R360 says the lack of players is not the reason for the delay and I can tell you this is the exact reason for this. The R360 has proposed the idea of 8 teams based and representing top cities around the world and this is not appealing to rugby fans. There is no history and what type of players are you going to attract as the only players I see signing up are players not good enough for international rugby and those in the twilight of their careers.
8 teams is the problem as you would need a squad of at least 30 players and another 4 or 5 back room staff. Where is the R360 league going to find 240 players because I just do not see this. Any person involved in this League will be seen negatively by those involved in rugby so even the coaches will be ending their careers as no team would hire them after this.
The launch in 2028 I do not see happening as the sport of rugby cannot afford to see 240 of the top players disappear and play in a rebel league. LIV golf did this, but this is very different and the same type of format will not be accepted and is dead in the water. When I first heard about this new league concept I was skeptical right from the very beginning and anyone thinking this format will work does not understand everyone will be blacklisted for a tournament that only lasts 8 -10 weeks per year.
The sport of rugby is controlling the minutes players play each season and having more rugby is not in the best interest of the sport. All of these players will be outcast with the real issue being their club and international careers will be terminated.