A rare joint statement from eight international rugby unions, including New Zealand, has warned players from those nations that they will not be eligible for selection at the top level if they switch to the proposed Rugby 360 league.
There have been reports of big-money offers for leading rugby union and league players for the competition, which is being promoted by former England international Mike Tindall.
The organisers have stressed they want to work in with unions and that player welfare is their top priority but New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy have united in their opposition.
"As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition," the unions said.
"International rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game, from grassroots participation to elite performance.
"Undermining that ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of our sport.
"Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men's and women's players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection," the statement concluded.
The unions say that R360 has given them no details about the logistics of the league and how it might fit into current calendars.
The proposed league would be bankrolled by interests in Saudi Arabia but it is not clear how teams selected from players around the world would engage fans.
The unions also say that the R360 model appears designed to generate profits for a small elite, and those backing the proposed competition have not engaged with all unions to explain how it will operate.
Organisers say they have agreements in place with nearly 200 players.
A statement from R360 in response to the unions said: "It's not always easy to embrace new opportunities, but as we've seen throughout history, it's essential for any sport to grow.
"So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game, and we can't wait to kick-off next year. Player welfare is one of the key reasons for creating our global series, which will greatly reduce player load and capture the attention of a new generation of fans globally.
"We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar. The series is designed with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts.
"Our philosophy is clear – if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way?
"We look forward to submitting to the World Rugby Council for sanctioning next (northern) summer as planned."
Such a time frame - presumably between July and September - would make for a tight turnaround ahead of proposed October start.
NZR policy already requires players to be contracted to the governing body and playing in New Zealand to be eligible for national teams.
The league is aiming for eight men's teams and four women's. There will be a condensed season, with events held at different venues around the world.
The International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) has urged members to be cautious about R360.
"Detailed information about the competition remains outstanding," the IRPA said in a statement.
"And the competition does not currently have World Rugby regulatory approval."
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