R360 League Athletes Hit With 10-Season Suspension from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's administration has stated that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for 10 years.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with lucrative deals and a reduced fixture list.

Leading National Rugby League stars have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and women's teams operating from key urban centers globally.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who plays for New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had discussions with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the new competition.

A group of rugby union nations, among them Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on R360 recruits appearing in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've responded strongly,” commented the league's chairman V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will continually be organizations that try to exploit our code for economic benefit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the growth of players. They merely capitalize on the hard work of others, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while gaining personally.

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

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

Subsequent to the prospective rugby union prohibitions were revealed earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

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

The new league will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's governing body, at its board session in 2026.