Cobus Reinach backs Test rugby pride over R360 riches amid breakaway league plans

The Mike Tindall-led breakaway competition is scheduled to launch in October 2026, promising lucrative player contracts and a shorter season. As it stands, the league will feature eight men's teams and four women's teams competing over a four-month campaign.

Leading unions have since said players who join the project will no longer be eligible for Test selection, meaning the game's top players will be faced with a huge choice to make.

Test rugby has long been seen as the pinnacle of the sport, particularly for the four-time World Champion Springboks, and even with the sums of money reportedly being offered to players, Reinach feels that boyhood desire to represent your country is bigger than any offer R360 can throw at players.

"Why speculate about something that's not even on the table," said the 35-year-old. "They haven't done anything yet and there's no real concrete plan.

"What we play for here is unreal and is every boy's dream. I don't know what their plans are, I don't know how they're going to do it; it doesn't look like they are.

"The boys know where we want to go. Every one of us."

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