July 18, 2025 • 8 mins
Rugby360 has been making headlines this week, with the revelation that they’re approaching some of our top players.
But will the competition take off? NZ Rugby Players Association Boss Rob Nichol joined Piney to discuss what new competitions mean for players, and how they should be approaching any that crop up.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Talking Rugby three sixty. Let's get a view from the players,
or certainly the body that represents them. Rob Nichol is
the chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.
He's with us now. Rob, thanks for your time this afternoon.
What is your reaction to the revelations this week about
Rugby three sixty and its potential impact on the game here, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Good Castleton, Jason. Look, it's been around now for nearly
eighty months, so there's nothing new or surprising for us
or our credited agents or a large number of the players.
I guess a couple of key dates for the matter emerging.
Something September's a pretty important time in terms of if
they want to launch next year. They need a few
things taken off by then, and so it's become a
(00:55):
bit more public in this before agency, and you know
they're looking to get off us out to players around
the world to try and to try and stand up
the league. But it's not you know, it's not the
first time and it won't be the last time that
we have private interest looking to start rugby competitions, and
it's good. It's good that people see us forward as
something interesting and they want to invest in it and
(01:17):
they want to they want to create some activity and
probably disrupt things sort of it.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
It's good, as you say, it's not the first time.
Do you believe this one has leaks?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, they certainly, you know, when we've met with them
a number of times now with the aids of the
guys driving, and they certainly don't seem to be lacking
the capital based on what they're representing and and they're
certainly they're certainly talking the game and they're taking action
and they're moving forward. But there's also, as there is,
is these things a lot a lot of questions that
(01:49):
have yet to be answered and only be sort of
answered in the fullness of time. Yes, it is a
little bit difficult to sort of say is this definitely
going to happen? Is it not? You know, we've had
competitions in the past where players have literally signed let
us have intention, then are just called us and you
don't hear anything about it. I think a couple of
years ago we had the twelves. We've got a couple
(02:10):
of sevens tournaments, one out of the States, one out
of out of the Middle East being bandied around at
the moment as well. And we had one in India.
Actually they ran two months ago. It was sort of
like an IPL equivalent for seven's rugby, and it was
really successful and did a great job. That one was
supposed to be stood up two years ago, but they
finally got it up and running this year. So you
(02:32):
just it's really just really hard to tell, to be
perfectly honest, and where we just explained to the players
and their credited agents, just to be really sensible, go
through the detail, make sure you really have a strong
understanding of what you're considering and what the implications are
and what you're signing. Get good advice and work through
(02:53):
a good process.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
There's the money that's being talked about, big enough to
turn the heads of players here, particularly those younger ones.
You can see, you know, older players have had their
all blacks career, they go off and play in Japan
or the UK. That sort of thing. Is the money
on offer here big enough to see the heads of
younger players.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
It's quite funny issue. This protected the office that are
going around and the money that's been put on table
for three six it's enough to get retired players out
of here. It's made it. It's not too bad. Yeah,
it's certainly the biggest the offers that are coming on
the table. It's the biggest we've seen in rugby. And
if they stand behind and that's why they're going to
(03:35):
be playing players for two or three years, it's it's
life changing, changing figures in the context of rugby union,
that's sure.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So in the in the words of the famous Queen song,
is this real life or is it just fantasy? What's
your gut feel?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Well, the credibility of the people that have been involved.
You know, they come from a background of one of
the biggest sports agencies in the world and they've been
in rugby. Mike Tindall, I mean everyone knows going by
Tindall as a player and a personally in a figure
up in the UK. You know, a couple of the
agents that are involved running this have been around Ruby
(04:12):
for a long time. So they clearly believe this is
God merit and they clearly believe they've got the substance
to pull it off. But I guess it's like all
good things, and whether you're in sport or whatever. You
come up with an idea and you're like, this is
a really good idea. Anyone goes yeah, yeah, it's good.
And then you say, okay, can we make a business
case here? And you make a business case and then
you might get to invest the same year. It's good. Okay,
(04:33):
well we'll do the plan. And then you do your
business plan, and you know, investors come along and say, yes,
we're committed, will investness business planet. You've got to implement
an implementation. It almost doesn't matter what sort of business
or thing you're starting up, particularly in sport, that's where
the rubber hurts the ground, and it's not straightforward and
it's not easy, and the things that you thought you
(04:53):
had planned for will almost definitely not pan out that way.
And I think that's that's what I've always observed these
private leagues, whether it's in rugby, correct network football, whatever
it might be, you always met with the unexpected or
roadblocks that you didn't anticipate. Or in our context of rugby,
you know, they need wild rugby sign off to be
(05:15):
able to stage their game unless they want to be
a so called rebel league. You know, they have said
that they will release players for international duty. But in
putting their schedule together, they didn't actually think about the
Southern hemishere internationals. And at the end of the day,
if plays in this league, they won't be able to
be able to play for the All Blacks or even
Australia or South African Rugby Championship for example. So there's there.
(05:39):
They're coming at the implementation phase. They're coming across a
lot of things I think that they hadn't planned for.
And so this this is when the rubber hits around,
and we'll just see whether they'll be able to navigate
their way through that or around us or smash their
way through it. I guess it's all going to play
out in front of us.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Do you think they will?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I honestly don't know. Funny, I really don't know. I
think I don't think it will happen necessarily as quickly
as they would like it. I think they're going to
come across a couple of issues that they're going to
have to eat and take time to resolve or you know,
I don't imagine the L and R or the end
of Premiership going to be that happy with complaining tournaments
(06:19):
in their backyard and in contracting their players. You know
how the FEF are. Then it's quite a northern hemisphere
focusing at the moment. You know, how do some of
those established competitions and unions feel, How do World Rugby
feel about it? Do they want to put up some
barriers or are they going to roll out the red carpet?
It's yeah, I honestly, I can't really give an opinion
other than say, it's another league that's out there. We're
(06:41):
taking it seriously, We're engaged with them. The players that
are receiving offers are taking it seriously and looking at
it closely. But it's not the first and it won't
be the last one.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Great to get your insight, Rob, thanks so much for
joining us this up that I might really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, I not so much help on it. Actually. Imagine
if you know, if you're out there thinking about it,
else that's going to happen and you never learned anything
there to do. But no, we'll see what happens. And
the one thing I would say is, you know, fifteen
twenty years ago, when the stuff was going around, we
went the probate players to speak, we went as organized
as we are now. Will we really quite organized. Most
(07:16):
players have got very compliment agents and people there to
be able to talk to. We've got real esteps methodologies
of what you've got to check, and we've got lots
of avenues where the player and really understand what it
means to them and their careers and their families and
things like that. So you know, there's no excuse in
terms of players out to Emphis. Is good advice, make
pocisions that work for them, So that's.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
One good thing about it, and they're good to know
our players are in safe hands again. Thanks Rot, appreciate
your time.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Take care. She is funny.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
No good on you mate. That's Rob Nicola, chief executive
officer of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association. It's just
so interesting to see whether this will go. Like Rob said,
you know, this isn't the first of these that's come
across the desk of players and player agents and those
involved in the Players Association. Look, they always look good
on a PowerPoint presentation, don't But when the rubber hits
(08:07):
the road, as Rob said that, that is when we
get a real idea about it. From what Bruce Sharrick
was saying, he believes this one to be well advanced.
Others I think are less sure about it. What is
sure is that it will be very interesting to see
how it plays out over the next little one.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Talking Rugby three sixty. Let's get a view from the players,
or certainly the body that represents them. Rob Nichol is
the chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.
He's with us now. Rob, thanks for your time this afternoon.
What is your reaction to the revelations this week about
Rugby three sixty and its potential impact on the game here, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Good Castleton, Jason. Look, it's been around now for nearly
eighty months, so there's nothing new or surprising for us
or our credited agents or a large number of the players.
I guess a couple of key dates for the matter emerging.
Something September's a pretty important time in terms of if
they want to launch next year. They need a few
things taken off by then, and so it's become a
(00:55):
bit more public in this before agency, and you know
they're looking to get off us out to players around
the world to try and to try and stand up
the league. But it's not you know, it's not the
first time and it won't be the last time that
we have private interest looking to start rugby competitions, and
it's good. It's good that people see us forward as
something interesting and they want to invest in it and
(01:17):
they want to they want to create some activity and
probably disrupt things sort of it.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
It's good, as you say, it's not the first time.
Do you believe this one has leaks?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, they certainly, you know, when we've met with them
a number of times now with the aids of the
guys driving, and they certainly don't seem to be lacking
the capital based on what they're representing and and they're
certainly they're certainly talking the game and they're taking action
and they're moving forward. But there's also, as there is,
is these things a lot a lot of questions that
(01:49):
have yet to be answered and only be sort of
answered in the fullness of time. Yes, it is a
little bit difficult to sort of say is this definitely
going to happen? Is it not? You know, we've had
competitions in the past where players have literally signed let
us have intention, then are just called us and you
don't hear anything about it. I think a couple of
years ago we had the twelves. We've got a couple
(02:10):
of sevens tournaments, one out of the States, one out
of out of the Middle East being bandied around at
the moment as well. And we had one in India.
Actually they ran two months ago. It was sort of
like an IPL equivalent for seven's rugby, and it was
really successful and did a great job. That one was
supposed to be stood up two years ago, but they
finally got it up and running this year. So you
(02:32):
just it's really just really hard to tell, to be
perfectly honest, and where we just explained to the players
and their credited agents, just to be really sensible, go
through the detail, make sure you really have a strong
understanding of what you're considering and what the implications are
and what you're signing. Get good advice and work through
(02:53):
a good process.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
There's the money that's being talked about, big enough to
turn the heads of players here, particularly those younger ones.
You can see, you know, older players have had their
all blacks career, they go off and play in Japan
or the UK. That sort of thing. Is the money
on offer here big enough to see the heads of
younger players.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
It's quite funny issue. This protected the office that are
going around and the money that's been put on table
for three six it's enough to get retired players out
of here. It's made it. It's not too bad. Yeah,
it's certainly the biggest the offers that are coming on
the table. It's the biggest we've seen in rugby. And
if they stand behind and that's why they're going to
(03:35):
be playing players for two or three years, it's it's
life changing, changing figures in the context of rugby union,
that's sure.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So in the in the words of the famous Queen song,
is this real life or is it just fantasy? What's
your gut feel?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Well, the credibility of the people that have been involved.
You know, they come from a background of one of
the biggest sports agencies in the world and they've been
in rugby. Mike Tindall, I mean everyone knows going by
Tindall as a player and a personally in a figure
up in the UK. You know, a couple of the
agents that are involved running this have been around Ruby
(04:12):
for a long time. So they clearly believe this is
God merit and they clearly believe they've got the substance
to pull it off. But I guess it's like all
good things, and whether you're in sport or whatever. You
come up with an idea and you're like, this is
a really good idea. Anyone goes yeah, yeah, it's good.
And then you say, okay, can we make a business
case here? And you make a business case and then
you might get to invest the same year. It's good. Okay,
(04:33):
well we'll do the plan. And then you do your
business plan, and you know, investors come along and say, yes,
we're committed, will investness business planet. You've got to implement
an implementation. It almost doesn't matter what sort of business
or thing you're starting up, particularly in sport, that's where
the rubber hurts the ground, and it's not straightforward and
it's not easy, and the things that you thought you
(04:53):
had planned for will almost definitely not pan out that way.
And I think that's that's what I've always observed these
private leagues, whether it's in rugby, correct network football, whatever
it might be, you always met with the unexpected or
roadblocks that you didn't anticipate. Or in our context of rugby,
you know, they need wild rugby sign off to be
(05:15):
able to stage their game unless they want to be
a so called rebel league. You know, they have said
that they will release players for international duty. But in
putting their schedule together, they didn't actually think about the
Southern hemishere internationals. And at the end of the day,
if plays in this league, they won't be able to
be able to play for the All Blacks or even
Australia or South African Rugby Championship for example. So there's there.
(05:39):
They're coming at the implementation phase. They're coming across a
lot of things I think that they hadn't planned for.
And so this this is when the rubber hits around,
and we'll just see whether they'll be able to navigate
their way through that or around us or smash their
way through it. I guess it's all going to play
out in front of us.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Do you think they will?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I honestly don't know. Funny, I really don't know. I
think I don't think it will happen necessarily as quickly
as they would like it. I think they're going to
come across a couple of issues that they're going to
have to eat and take time to resolve or you know,
I don't imagine the L and R or the end
of Premiership going to be that happy with complaining tournaments
(06:19):
in their backyard and in contracting their players. You know
how the FEF are. Then it's quite a northern hemisphere
focusing at the moment. You know, how do some of
those established competitions and unions feel, How do World Rugby
feel about it? Do they want to put up some
barriers or are they going to roll out the red carpet?
It's yeah, I honestly, I can't really give an opinion
other than say, it's another league that's out there. We're
(06:41):
taking it seriously, We're engaged with them. The players that
are receiving offers are taking it seriously and looking at
it closely. But it's not the first and it won't
be the last one.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Great to get your insight, Rob, thanks so much for
joining us this up that I might really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, I not so much help on it. Actually. Imagine
if you know, if you're out there thinking about it,
else that's going to happen and you never learned anything
there to do. But no, we'll see what happens. And
the one thing I would say is, you know, fifteen
twenty years ago, when the stuff was going around, we
went the probate players to speak, we went as organized
as we are now. Will we really quite organized. Most
(07:16):
players have got very compliment agents and people there to
be able to talk to. We've got real esteps methodologies
of what you've got to check, and we've got lots
of avenues where the player and really understand what it
means to them and their careers and their families and
things like that. So you know, there's no excuse in
terms of players out to Emphis. Is good advice, make
pocisions that work for them, So that's.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
One good thing about it, and they're good to know
our players are in safe hands again. Thanks Rot, appreciate
your time.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Take care. She is funny.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
No good on you mate. That's Rob Nicola, chief executive
officer of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association. It's just
so interesting to see whether this will go. Like Rob said,
you know, this isn't the first of these that's come
across the desk of players and player agents and those
involved in the Players Association. Look, they always look good
on a PowerPoint presentation, don't But when the rubber hits
(08:07):
the road, as Rob said that, that is when we
get a real idea about it. From what Bruce Sharrick
was saying, he believes this one to be well advanced.
Others I think are less sure about it. What is
sure is that it will be very interesting to see
how it plays out over the next little one.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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