"Chaos" - Five current England stars who could miss the 2027 Rugby World Cup
Rugby NewsTuesday, 26 August 2025 at 20:55
World Cup winner Mike Tindall isn’t just chatting about rugby on podcasts anymore — he’s shaking the whole game up.
His new baby, R360, is set to launch in September 2026, and it promises to flip rugby on its head.
Think global league, Hollywood-style production, and billionaire backers like Red Bull, the Glazers, and Fenway Sports Group circling. Each team? Around £15 million to set up — or in football terms, one Harry Maguire.
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Quirky Fact #1
Did you know? The RFU’s player eligibility rules are stricter than a bouncer at Twickenham on Six Nations day. If you don’t play in the Premiership, you don’t play for England. Simple as.
Where in the World?
R360 is planting flags across the globe. Teams in London, Tokyo, Dubai, Cape Town, Boston, and Miami are confirmed, with two more mystery cities being teased like Love Island cliffhangers.
And here’s the kicker — 35 players per squad, and a women’s version is already in the pipeline.
Contract Chaos: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
To join the first R360 season, stars need to be out of contract by summer 2026. That rules out golden boys like Marcus Smith (signed until 2028) — unless R360 flexes its war chest to buy him out. Spoiler: they probably will.
Quirky Fact #2
Over 160 players worldwide have already signed letters of intent to join R360. That’s basically half the Barbarians squad after a night out.
Five England Stars in the Crosshairs
1. Fin Smith – Fly-half Frenzy
Northampton’s golden boy, already hailed as one of the world’s best, is top of R360’s wishlist. Out of contract soon, Smith is set to become rugby’s hottest free agent. His boss Phil Dowson is desperate to keep him, but with Wasserman Rugby ties linking him to R360 founder Mark Spoors… this one smells of a done deal.
2. Henry Slade – The Classy Centre
According to Mail Online, Slade is firmly on R360’s radar. At 31 by the 2027 World Cup, this could be his last big international hurrah — or the perfect time to cash in. Expect fireworks.
3. Jamie George – The Captain Hooker
England’s skipper and Saracens stalwart, George has been linked to the rebel league too.
He’ll be 36 by the time of RWC 2027, which is either “veteran leader” or “prime for a global paycheque,” depending on your perspective.
4. George Ford – The General
Fordy’s pulling strings for England right now, but whispers suggest R360 could tempt him abroad. With fly-halves being rugby’s version of quarterbacks, don’t be shocked if a Tokyo or Miami franchise throws silly money his way.
5. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – The Speedster
At just 22, the Exeter Chiefs winger is already tearing up defences and is reportedly on R360’s hit list. Born in Cardiff, rescued by Exeter after Wasps’ collapse, and tied down with a new contract in 2024… but money talks. And R360 is shouting.
Quirky Fact #3
The average Premiership wage? Around £120,000 a year. R360 is rumoured to be offering double or triple that. You’d swap rainy Worcester away days for sunny Miami too.
Final Whistle: What Next?
If the RFU holds firm, England could lose some of its biggest names just a year out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Tindall’s R360 promises cash, glamour, and global reach — but it also threatens Test rugby’s soul.
The big question? Will England’s stars chase caps or cash?
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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