"Eight of the 12 tier-one unions, led by England and New Zealand, announced last month that they would not select R360 players, and the Guardian has learned that the Lions will follow suit. Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa also came out in support of a ban, but Wales and Argentina did not due to smaller player pools and weaker domestic leagues."
"A number of England's World Cup winners are leading targets for R360, with the full-back Ellie Kildunne saying last month that she is open to anything. With the next tournament four years away, there are concerns at the Rugby Football Union in particular that salaries of up to 270,000 in the franchise competition will be too good to turn down, despite the prospect of an international ban. The salary cap for an entire squad in Premiership Women's Rugby this season is just 255,000."
The British & Irish Lions plan to ban players who join R360 to prevent an exodus of England's Red Roses to the rebel league. Eight of the 12 tier-one unions announced they would not select R360 players; Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa support a ban while Wales and Argentina did not. Several England World Cup winners are targets for R360 and players such as Ellie Kildunne have expressed openness to offers. The RFU fears R360 salaries of up to 270,000 will lure players despite international bans. The Premiership Women's Rugby squad salary cap this season is just 255,000. The four home unions hope the 2027 Lions tour to New Zealand will deter defections.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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