British and Irish Lions join ban on R360 recruits for 2027

Any player who participates in the R360 competition will be exempt from their infamous first women’s tour in 2027, according to the British and Irish Lions.

R360, which has a series of events starting in October 2026, wants to find the stars of four women’s teams to compete in its globetrotting series.

However, only England, Ireland, and Scotland are among the eight leading Test nations that have outlawed the selection of R360 players for their men’s and women’s teams.

The Lions’ statement claims they “fully support” the unions’ move, which includes both genders, but does not specifically mention men’s tours, the next of which is scheduled for 2029 in New Zealand and is still in the planning stages.

The British and Irish Lions “firmly support the position of our governing unions in relation to the proposed competition” and “will be advising that any player who chooses to play in R360 will not be selected for the 2027 tour to New Zealand,” read a statement.

We want the Lions Women’s Tour to be the best it can be because it is the first time it has ever taken place, making it a historic moment for women’s rugby.

We think it’s important that potential players who are chosen are playing in established leagues with certainty regarding their schedule and schedule given that the tour is only a year and a half away.

The Lions’ playing pool has been restricted for the first time.

Prior to the 2025 trip, they had selected players from abroad like Blair Kinghorn of Toulouse and Scotland.

In January 2024, chief executive Ben Calveley stated that “we don’t have a policy that prevents anyone from being selected… we don’t have any restrictions on selection.”

The Daily Telegraph reported in October that a sizable number of “Red Roses” had signed pre-contract agreements to play at R360.

A number of recent and current Test players have already been formally committed, making it clear that the organizers are filling out their men’s roster, which they claim to have close to the 200 names needed.

R360 hasn’t yet received official sanction from World Rugby, which requests more information about the series’ production and player signings for international competitions.

Emily Scarratt, one of the most prominent women’s players in the sport and the all-time top scorer for the Red Roses, claimed she had received no offers to extend her career with R360.

Other reported targets, including 2025 Lions tourists Finn Russell and Fin Smith, have also extended their contracts with their existing clubs, as did Sale and England fly-half George Ford, who turned down an approach in the men’s game.

The NRL of Australian rugby league has threatened to expel any player who switches to R360 and will do so for the duration of their 10-year bans.

In the meantime, Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney claims he has never met any England player who plans to give up their Test career in order to pursue a lucrative new career.

He told Rugby Union Weekly, “I haven’t heard of any players yet, and that doesn’t mean that I haven’t heard of them.” “I haven’t heard of any England players, either male or female, who has actually signed,” he said.