RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: Bombshell details of breakaway league revealed including deadline for signing hundreds of players, TV deal and global franchises

Rugby Rebel League organizers have set a target of activating millions of pounds worth of player contracts by September 2025 for a competition that could turn the sport on its head.

Ambitious promoters are on the hunt for some of the game’s biggest stars for the competition which will be held around the world like a traveling circus.

Pre-contracts have already been offered to key players, involving complicated buyouts of their existing club deals.

Mail Sport understands that three conditions must be met by September next year for the pre-contracts to come into effect.

The conditions are that eight franchises are sold in the fundraising process, an international TV deal and that 200 players are signed up.

If this is successful, the first competition could take place in the summer of 2026. Organizers are hoping to secure funding from the US and the Middle East, with hundreds of millions of pounds needed to recruit the stars on the sport’s frontline.

The World Cup winner has been openly critical of existing rugby structures in the past

Former England international and 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall is said to have been consulted during the draft planning phase.

Tindall has been critical of rugby’s existing structures and recently spoke about the value of franchise systems on his The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.

“I know you can’t change the past, but the problem is no one went to the NFL in 1995 and said, ‘We’re thinking about doing this, how would you do it?’

‘They would probably have said that your main organization should run everything, sell all the franchises and sponsorships under one thing and distribute that evenly between the clubs. Now we’re just trying to patch up.

“We’ve been here (since rugby turned professional) because it was never set up properly in the first place. It was a lot of shuffling of decks of cards and people saying, “Oh my god, I can make money with this.” Looking back now, it would only have really worked if you had something like the central league, where you sell the rights to the entire league.”

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has not yet commented on the competition. He has been keeping a low profile following England’s disappointing autumn campaign, with calls for him to resign after his seven-figure paycheck was announced.

Ex-England coach makes rare appearance

Less spotted former England defense coach Felix Jones – who continues to work from home under a strict agreement with the RFU – will be back in an international stadium this weekend when he attends Ireland against Australia in Dublin.

Jones shocked the RFU and national coach Steve Borthwick this summer when he announced his intention to leave the England squad just seven months after joining.

He has since worked remotely on long-term projects for England, but was away from the team this autumn after being replaced by Joe El-Abd.

Jones’ status in limbo means he has not been seen in public for months, but Rugby Confidential understands he will be a guest speaker in the Aviva Stadium hospitality boxes on Saturday for Ireland’s meeting with the Wallabies to win the Autumn Nations Series completes.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney (right) keeps a low profile following calls to resign after his seven-figure paycheque was revealed

Felix Jones returns to an international rugby stadium for Ireland’s clash with Australia

Gloucester target All Blacks star

Gloucester are interested in recruiting English qualified number 8 Hoskins Sotutu after he was left out of the All Blacks squad for their autumn tour.

Sotutu has been capped by New Zealand but could be eligible for England in November if he completes a 36-month waiting period.

Sotutu is eligible for England through his mother and he could replace Toulon’s Zach Mercer at Kingsholm.

Japan joked during a media call

The anxious Japanese media team panicked on Friday evening when a Zoom account claiming to be Danny Care logged into their pre-match media conference.

The JRFU have axed their media program since Care accused Eddie Jones of overseeing years of toxic culture during his time as England coach.

Jones, now with Japan, pulled out of his pre-match press conference at the last minute and was replaced by his assistant Neal Hatley. An independent moderator seemed oblivious to the backstory when she invited Care to ask a question after raising his virtual hand.

In the background, a support staff member could be heard saying, “Healthcare is at a conference?” Hatley was left in a state of confusion and said, “DC… is that you? Is that really Danny?’

Care insists he had nothing to do with the online profile and suspects Owen Slot, the Times’ chief sports writer, as the man behind the profile. Rugby Confidential understands that Slot was not behind the joke.

Hoskins Sotutu has been capped by New Zealand but he could be eligible for England next November

Eddie Jones pulled out of a pre-match press conference, where a fake Danny Care account joined the Zoom session

Care recently accused Jones of overseeing a toxic culture when he was England head coach

Springboks go forward without showering

South Africa’s newest star Cameron Hanekom was forced to board his team bus back to their Cardiff hotel, still dressed in full kit, after being selected for a post-match drugs test following the win over Wales.

Hanekom, 22, in the back row, made his Springbok debut in the 45-12 hammering, playing against the team he could have represented as he has a Welsh grandmother.

World Rugby’s drug testing involves players being selected at random to provide post-match samples. Hanekom was one of the players picked at the Principality Stadium.

However, by the time he emerged, his teammates had already changed and headed home, meaning Hanekom was forced to leave without a post-match shower on site.

Cardiff player of the match Franco Mostert kicked off the South African celebrations after their final match of the year by walking to the bus with a huge case of lager in his hand.

Italian legend attends All Blacks Test

Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero was one of the guests at the Italian Test against the All Blacks on Saturday.

The match was held at Juventus’ home stadium and Del Piero was presented with a No. 10 Italian rugby shirt after the match.