Mike Tindall’s breakaway plans slammed

Mike Tindall’s dream of shaking up the rugby world may have run into a formidable tackle. 

The former England international, and husband of King Charles' niece Zara Tindall, is spearheading the breakaway R360 league where he hopes he will transform the sport.

But the ambitious project has already faced a crushing verdict from governing bodies. 

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is set to announce that male players who sign with R360 will be barred from representing England. 

Meanwhile, talks are underway with northern and southern hemisphere unions to potentially extend the ban across international rugby.

While the RFU has made it clear that male players who sign with the breakaway competition will be barred from representing England, the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) has also refused to back the fledgling venture.

In a leaked statement seen by The Telegraph, IRPA slammed R360 for circulating contracts that reference the union without authorisation. 

“Whilst IRPA and IRPA members have had some discussions with R360 representatives, these conversations have been focused on fact finding to understand the substantive detail about the business model, the competition, its delivery and its interplay with the existing ecosystem,” the statement read.

The union went on to emphasise that the competition currently lacks World Rugby regulatory approval and is not endorsed by IRPA or its members. 

“References to IRPA within any contract do not have IRPA permission,” the statement concluded marking another significant blow to Tindall’s vision of a rebel rugby revolution.

Despite attracting interest from over 200 players some eyeing contracts worth up to £740,000 a season the league has already run into regulatory roadblocks and a lack of official backing.