R360 League Players Hit With 10-Season Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

The NRL's authority has announced that participants who enter the “breakaway” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

The new league, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with lucrative deals and a condensed playing schedule.

Prominent NRL players have reportedly been approached by the new league, which will involve multiple men's sides and four women's sides based in major cities worldwide.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.

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

Several leading rugby union teams, among them Australia, last week declared a restriction on athletes signing with R360 appearing in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our teams and we've taken firm action,” commented ARLC chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will persistently exist organizations that try to exploit our sport for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in pathways or the advancement of talent. They merely capitalize on the efforts of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

“They are, in reality, imitating the sport.”

The league is co-founded by ex-England star Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Following the potential union prohibitions were declared recently, it said: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is structured with tailored timetables for male and female sides and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as included in their contracts.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its plans from World Rugby, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering in the coming year.