Rugby Australia and seven other of the world’s leading rugby nations have issued an extraordinary joint statement condemning the proposed R360 competition, warning players that participation would make them ineligible for international selection.

The statement - co-signed by Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy - marks the strongest collective pushback yet against the privately funded competition that is set to shake up the global game.

It comes after this masthead revealed that Rugby Australia is planning to block any player who signs with R360 from representing the Wallabies, amid growing concern the rebel league could lure stars away from traditional competitions with multimillion-dollar offers.

The biggest names in rugby – and rugby leag

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