World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin has expressed his keenness to engage with the driving forces behind the new R360 rugby league, including 2003 England World Cup winner mike Tindall and leading agent Mark Spoors, at the earliest opportunity.
Gilpin emphasized the necessity of dialogue with these key figures, stating, “We need to have a dialogue with those guys when they are ready to do that. Rugby needs investment.”
He highlighted the competitive landscape in which rugby operates, noting, “Rugby is in a really competitive environment. around the world, every sport is competing in an ever more tough attention economy.”
World Rugby’s stance on investment is conditional on its strategic request. “Investment into the game is great,” Gilpin commented. “As long as that investment is driving into the right areas and creating a more financially enduring game for players and for the wider ecosystem, then we encourage it.”
The ultimate assessment of the R360 initiative will depend on its alignment with these principles. “we’ve got to understand what that means in the R360 case,” Gilpin concluded.
