Organisers of rugby union’s new breakaway league have now turned their attention to signing up top coaches as part of their plans to shake-up the game’s established order. R360 wants to create ‘generational change’ in the sport by creating eight new franchise men’s teams made up of the world’s best players who will play all around the globe. As previously reported by Daily Mail Sport, the likes of Fenway Sports Group, the Glazer family and Red Bull have expressed interest in franchise ownership while it is understood close to 200 players have already agreed to join for the slated R360 start of summer 2026. They include Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who has confirmed his rugby return after a stint in the NFL. R360 is now being seen as a genuine proposition by World Rugby – who are co-ordinating how to respond to the threat – and the game’s individual national governing bodies. There is an acknowledgment that both leading players and coaches will be attracted by the proposition of joining R360 both from a financial and lifestyle perspective. R360, run by England 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall and leading agent Mark Spoors, are understood to be close to sealing the required number of circa 200 players they need by September to get up and running which is why coaches are now their next priority. Any coaches who join R360 will be tasked with playing an entertaining brand of rugby to attract new fans to the competition which will follow a Formula1-style global model. Both players and coaches who sign must be out of contract with their current employers by the summer of 2026 to take part in the first season. R360 was a hot topic of conversation in Australia between rugby’s top bosses during key meetings held during the British & Irish Lions tour. ‘I think it’s a genuine potential disruption,’ Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said of the proposals being put forward by R360. ‘None of us are thinking this isn’t going to happen. It might not happen. But we’re better off planning for it to happen and make sure we do our best to respond to that.’ Former Wales coach Warren Gatland looks unlikely to be joining R360 with reports in the Far East on Friday suggesting he is set to take charge of Japanese side Urayasu D-Rocks. R360 has no plans to disrupt international rugby. But any England players who join the rebel league would have to forgo their Test careers to do so. English rugby rules state players must be employed by a Premiership club to represent Steve Borthwick’s national side. For R360 to be approved by World Rugby, its bosses would have to show it complies with the regulations stipulated by the game’s governing body. That includes player release for international windows. Crucially, R360 approval would have to be tabled for World Rugby Council consideration by one of the game’s national unions. It is unlikely a major union such as the RFU or WRU would do so given they are potentially at risk of losing out should R360 get off the ground. The WRU is set to cut the number of its professional teams from four to most likely two, so Tierney is aware Wales players may be attracted to R360 given that it is uncertain as things stand which teams will continue to exist long term. The WRU plans to confirm in the coming weeks its preferred option for the future with a period of consultation with stakeholders then set to take place. Wales captain Jac Morgan, who impressed with the Lions in Australia, is one of a number of Welsh players out of contract at the end of the forthcoming season and would be a leading target for R360 as a result. ‘At the heart of all this, we want to provide stability and the best for Welsh rugby,’ Tierney said. ‘Contracts start to be talked about in October and R360’s aim is to be up and running by next summer. I’m absolutely aware of that.’