R360 is not a league - Premiership Women's Rugby boss Genevieve Shore discusses the potential impact on women's rugby players and the sport's future.
'R360 could leave women's players in limbo' - Premiership Women's Rugby executive chair Genevieve Shore voices concerns over the proposed four-team women's event, fearing it may not adequately prepare players for international rugby.
England's Ellie Kildunne has shown interest in learning more about R360, a high-profile breakaway series aiming to launch in October 2026.
Shore emphasizes that R360's format, consisting of four franchises, is not a league but a short-term showpiece competition. She worries about the potential for players to miss out on the depth of England's nine-team PWR, which is considered the premier domestic club competition in women's rugby.
'Playing maybe eight games, maybe 10 games - that is not getting you ready for international rugby. So where does that leave those players? I worry that they'll be in limbo.'
R360's first event is likely to clash with the newly announced WXV Global Series.
Canada, runners-up at the World Cup, were not part of the joint statement against R360, with many of their players, including captain Alex Tessier and world player of the year Sophie de Goede, playing in PWR.
Shore acknowledges the appeal of R360's reportedly higher pay but stresses the importance of supporting the rest of the game and the investments made by PWR in player development and community rugby.
'Our league houses just over 500 players, and they go from 18-year-olds up to players in their 30s with 100 caps for their country. Our job is not just the athlete with 100 caps, though. Our clubs have invested millions in schools, in colleges, in university partnerships, in building out their pathway projects and work with the Rugby Football Union, who are doing the same.'
The unions have expressed concerns that R360's focus on profit could hollow out investment in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.
Yann Roubert, the head of the French club game, argues that bypassing those who build the sport is not a sustainable approach.
R360 claims to prioritize players and offer the highest standards of support, suggesting that the investment and attention it brings can benefit the sport as a whole.
