R360 Players Hit With 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's authority has declared that athletes who join the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for 10 years.

R360, which plans to launch in October 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a condensed fixture list.

Prominent rugby league stars have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will feature multiple men's sides and four women's teams located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with his NRL club in the league, has confirmed he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from R360.

A group of union teams, such as Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 playing international matches.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've responded strongly,” stated ARLC chairman the official.

“Regrettably, there will persistently exist entities that attempt to hijack our game for monetary profit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the development of players. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, putting players at risk of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

“In truth, they represent, copying the game.”

The organization is established by ex-England star Mike Tindall and supported by commercial backers.

After the potential rugby union prohibitions were announced earlier, it stated: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and the organization will allow all athletes for test matches, as specified in their deals.”

The new league will seek approval for its initiatives from World Rugby, union's regulatory group, at its board session next year.