R360 Recruits Face 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's authority has announced that participants who join the “counterfeit” R360 will be prohibited for a decade.

The proposed competition, set to start in 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Prominent National Rugby League players have reportedly been approached by R360, which will include six to eight men's teams and four women's sides located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents the Warriors in the competition, has said he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing R360.

A group of union countries, among them Australia, last week announced a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 playing international matches.

“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's chairman V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will persistently exist groups that try to exploit our sport for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of athletes. They merely capitalize on the hard work of others, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.

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

R360 is established by retired international Tindall and supported by independent financiers.

Subsequent to the potential rugby union bans were declared recently, it stated: “We want to work together as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is structured with tailored timetables for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

The new league will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's administrative organization, at its official gathering in the coming year.