R360 League Athletes Face Decade-Long Exclusion from NRL

The NRL's authority has declared that players who enter the “counterfeit” R360 will be barred for 10 years.

The new league, set to start in late 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Leading rugby league players have reportedly been approached by the breakaway group, which will feature six to eight men's sides and four women's teams located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Representing Samoa the player, who plays for the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be considering joining the new competition.

Several leading union teams, such as Australia, earlier announced a ban on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our teams and we've acted decisively,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission head Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be organizations that try to exploit our sport for potential financial gain.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the advancement of players. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of financial loss while profiting themselves.

“Essentially, they are, counterfeiting a code.”

R360 is established by ex-England star Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

After the prospective union sanctions were announced earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate together as part of the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is arranged with bespoke schedules for both genders and the organization will release all players for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

The new league will seek approval for its initiatives from the international authority, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session in 2026.