R360 Athletes Subject to Decade-Long Exclusion from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's administration has stated that participants who sign with the “counterfeit” R360 league will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, set to start in 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Top National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's teams and four women's sides based in major cities around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had discussions with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the new competition.

Eight major union nations, such as Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on R360 recruits playing international matches.

“We heard our teams and we've acted decisively,” stated Australian Rugby League Commission head Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will continually be groups that seek to pirate our game for economic benefit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the advancement of players. They only leverage the hard work of others, endangering athletes of economic hardship while benefiting financially.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

The league is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the prospective union prohibitions were declared last week, it stated: “We seek to cooperate together as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The series is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and the organization will release all players for global fixtures, as included in their agreements.”

The new league will seek approval for its proposals from the international authority, union's administrative organization, at its official gathering in 2026.