Now R360 has to put meat on the bone

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE...

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

THE R360 plan is a disruption, but the good thing about disruptions is that they cause conversations, and it’s always good for rugby union to take stock of where it is.

The old adage that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is fine if everything is ticking along successfully, but rugby union in England and Wales is on its knees financially, even though the Premiership is good to watch.

When you get the first headline that the top 40 players will be paid £1m it grabs people’s attention, although, inevitably, the next question is how much will the remaining 240 players be paid?

The questions do not end there. When the RFU lets it be known that it has no plans to change its agreements with the Premiership clubs, it becomes even harder to see R360’s starting line in April 2026 being practical.

However, it would be surprising if there are not plenty of players who are interested in what comes next. When Kerry Packer’s World Rugby Corporation reared its head in 1995 it was very appealing to players, and I signed an unconditional contract which paid me whether it happened, or it didn’t.

It was very exciting, with the USA mentioned as a venue, and after talking to a couple of my team-mates we were ready to hear more. However, it didn’t happen because South Africa signed up their players, and then New Zealand and Australia followed suit, and Rupert Murdoch went on to create SANZAR.