Rebel rugby union tournament signs broadcast deal with YouTube, partners with Peyton Manning and Obamas

Code Sports can reveal that not only has R360 got a groundbreaking deal with YouTube, but they are partnering with former US president Barack Obama and NFL legend Peyton Manning in producing the content.

R360 organisers have partnered with Manning’s Omaha Productions, a company that collaborates with Higher Ground Productions – owned by Barack and Michelle Obama – to produce content for streaming platforms.

They’ve previously produced the hit Netflix series Quarterback, featuring NFL superstars Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Kirk Cousins.

They will also enter negotiations with free-to-air broadcasters in relevant countries to maximise exposure.

Now they will turn their hand to rugby, as R360 looks to secure 200 professional players including Wallabies.

Code Sports understands the new tournament is targeting up to 10 Wallabies players, with three or four close to signing deals.

They are planning to launch their first season in September 2026, in an abbreviated format.

They will then play a full season from 2027, split in half, with the first part of the season played very early in the year, and the second phase at the back end.

This is to avoid clashing with international Test matches, meaning players would still be able to represent their countries.

R360 officials are set to meet with World Rugby executives on September 9 to update them on plans.

World Rugby has not sanctioned the league, and could yet remove their support, which would place enormous pressure on players who sign R360 contracts, and unions who must decide whether they pick those players for international duty.

It’s understood R360 already has signed letters of intent from 160 players around the world, and are looking to fill the final 40 spots by an October 1 deadline.

The competition will be bankrolled by private equity firms in the US and Europe. There is no Saudi Arabian money involved.

While there has been healthy scepticism over whether this new league will actually get off the ground, significant strides have been made in recent days.

Code Sports understands that Red Bull has started negotiating with R360 about a potential deal to house teams at their facilities around the world for pre-season training camps.

It is part of a large sponsorship deal Red Bull intends to take up with the rugby tournament, that will feature eight men’s and four women’s teams.

The teams will play over weekends in cities around the world, like Sevens style tournaments but in the traditional 15-player format, as a prelude to entertainment events in the evenings at the same stadiums.

Those include concerts by famous artists, and dance parties by renowned DJs.

While much has been made of R360 targeting NRL stars, a mandate of the competition is that they will not hold contract talks with any players on contract.

Stars such as Zac Lomax, who has been linked with the tournament despite a long-term deal with Parramatta Eels, would need to show R360 a release letter before entering into contract negotiations.

There is no specific number of NRL targets for R360, and their priority is signing Test rugby stars including a number of British & Irish Lions players who recently toured Australia.

Rugby Australia has met with R360 officials, but had nothing further to add to what chief executive Phil Waugh told media two weeks ago.

“We’ve had conversations with R360, I think a lot of people have had conversations with R360 and we haven’t got a huge amount of detail,” Waugh said.

“We understand that players are talking to R360, some have engaged and signed with R360.

“We’ve got a fairly open mind to what that looks like, but it’s very difficult without having more detailed information of what the modelling looks like.

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“And just to add off the back of that, we’ve been really, really cognisant around securing our players for the long play, 38 players have been secured over the last 12 months.

“Some have got contracts through to 28. And we’re really mindful of making sure that we’ve got a long play and we invest in our players for the long term.

“I think that’s important that we make sure that our players are playing in our competition consistently.”