US rugby star Irona Maher said breakaway rugby league could be positive for the game, but warned that organizers would have to pay female players for what they deserve.
Maher and the US are preparing to face England in the opening game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Sunderland on Friday.
Maher’s immediate focus will be on the pitch, but the emergence of a potential breakaway league is expected to be a storyline throughout the tournament.
Maher said he has been contacted multiple times about the new venture but would like to see the action.
“The number of times I’ve received emails saying, ‘A new league is approaching.’ That’s great. Let’s get started.
“I’m interested, but I’m not going to downgrade myself or my worth. That’s not just what I bring to the pitch, it’s a great player, and I’m also looking at what brings it out.
The most prominent breakaway league at the moment is the R360, with plans to start the New-Look tournament in September 2026.
Sources told ESPN that Maher is at the top of the organizers’ list of who wants to find headlines for the women’s league. Maher is the most followed rugby player (male or female) on social media with 5.2 million followers on Instagram and 3.6m followers on Tiktok.
Olympic bronze medalists hope that more players will show their personality on social media and cherish potential new leagues.
Information from ESPN’s Tom Hamilton contributed to this report.
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