R360 Competition Players Face 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's governing body has announced that participants who join the “rebel” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, which plans to launch in late 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with lucrative deals and a condensed game calendar.

Top rugby league athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's sides and four women's teams based in large metropolitan areas worldwide.

Samoa's the rugby star, who is with the Warriors in the league, has stated he has had discussions with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be considering joining the rebel league.

Several leading union nations, among them Australia, earlier announced a ban on R360 recruits participating in global fixtures.

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

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

“They avoid funding in development systems or the growth of talent. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while benefiting financially.

“Essentially, they are, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is launched by ex-England star Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the potential rugby union prohibitions were announced last week, it said: “We want to work collaboratively as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and R360 will permit participants for international matches, as specified in their deals.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its initiatives from the international authority, union's governing body, at its official gathering next year.