R360 League Recruits Subject to 10-Season Suspension from NRL

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

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with hefty contracts and a condensed fixture list.

Top National Rugby League players have reportedly received offers by R360, which will include six or eight men's sides and women's teams operating from large metropolitan areas globally.

The Samoan the player, who represents the Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had discussions with R360.

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

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

“We've listened to our franchises and we've taken firm action,” stated Australian Rugby League Commission head Peter V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will continually be groups that seek to pirate our code for monetary profit.

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

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

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

After the potential union prohibitions were announced earlier, it stated: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and the organization will allow all athletes for international matches, as specified in their agreements.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's governing body, at its board session next year.