R360 Competition Athletes Subject to 10-Season Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that participants who join the “breakaway” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

R360, scheduled to begin in October 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with lucrative deals and a condensed game calendar.

Top NRL athletes have reportedly been approached by R360, which will involve six to eight men's clubs and four women's teams operating from major cities worldwide.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who represents the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing the rebel league.

A group of union nations, including Australia, recently imposed a restriction on athletes signing with R360 playing international matches.

“We've listened to our franchises and we've taken firm action,” said ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will persistently exist groups that seek to pirate our code for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the development of talent. They merely capitalize on the dedication of others, endangering athletes of monetary damage while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and supported by private investors.

Following the prospective rugby union prohibitions were announced last week, it stated: “We want to work collaboratively as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The event is designed with tailored timetables for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for test matches, as written into their deals.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its council meeting in the coming year.