R360 Competition Players Hit With 10-Year Ban from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's governing body has declared that participants who join the “rebel” R360 will be barred for 10 years.

R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a condensed playing schedule.

Leading rugby league athletes have reportedly received offers by the breakaway group, which will include six to eight men's teams and women's teams operating from major cities globally.

Samoa's the player, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had discussions with the new organization.

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

A group of rugby union teams, including Australia, earlier declared a prohibition on players joining R360 playing global fixtures.

“We've listened to our teams and we've acted decisively,” stated ARLC head V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our sport for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, putting players at risk of financial loss while benefiting financially.

“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is established by former England World Cup winner Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

Subsequent to the prospective rugby union bans were announced last week, it stated: “We aim to collaborate together as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as written into their agreements.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering next year.