R360 Athletes Face 10-Season Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

The NRL's authority has announced that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 competition will be barred for a decade.

R360, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with lucrative deals and a reduced game calendar.

Prominent National Rugby League players have reportedly been approached by R360, which will include six or eight men's teams and women's teams based in large metropolitan areas globally.

The Samoan the player, who plays for the Warriors in the competition, has said he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Eight major rugby union countries, including Australia, earlier imposed a restriction on athletes signing with R360 playing international matches.

“We've listened to our franchises and we've acted decisively,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chairman the official.

“Regrettably, there will always be organizations that seek to pirate our sport for potential financial gain.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the development of talent. They only leverage the hard work of existing bodies, putting players at risk of financial loss while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”

The league is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by private investors.

After the potential union bans were declared recently, it commented: “We want to work in partnership as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The event is arranged with customized calendars for both genders and we will allow all athletes for international matches, as specified in their agreements.”

The breakaway group will apply for endorsement for its proposals from World Rugby, the sport's administrative organization, at its official gathering in the coming year.