WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Eight of rugby’s most powerful nations have announced international bans for any players who join the breakaway R360 organization which intends to launch a multi-city series next year.

England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, South Africa , New Zealand and Australia have written a joint letter in which they urge men's and women's players to think carefully before accepting offers from the R360 organization.

Representatives of the R360 reportedly have approached leading rugby union and rugby league players around the world in an effort to create a series which upends rugby’s existing global order.

R360’s organizers say they have agreements in place with 200 men's players and approached leading players at the recent Women's Rugby World Cup in Englan

See Full Page