R360 League Athletes Hit With Decade-Long Exclusion from National Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has stated that players who enter the “counterfeit” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 years.

The new league, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a condensed fixture list.

Leading NRL athletes have reportedly been approached by R360, which will involve six to eight men's teams and four women's sides based in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Samoa's the player, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has said he has had discussions with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be considering joining the rebel league.

A group of rugby union teams, such as Australia, last week declared a restriction on athletes signing with R360 participating in international matches.

“We have consulted our clubs and we've acted decisively,” stated ARLC chairman the official.

“Sadly, there will always be entities that seek to pirate our sport for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the growth of athletes. They merely capitalize on the hard work of existing bodies, endangering athletes of financial loss while profiting themselves.

“They are, in reality, copying the game.”

R360 is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by private investors.

After the prospective union sanctions were announced earlier, it commented: “We aim to collaborate together as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is designed with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and we will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as included in their contracts.”

The new league will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its board session in 2026.