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 will be banned for 10 seasons.

R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is aiming to attract rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a reduced playing schedule.

Top NRL stars have reportedly been approached by the new league, which will feature six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Representing Samoa the player, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had discussions with R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Several leading union countries, including Australia, earlier declared a restriction on players joining R360 appearing in test matches.

“We've listened to our franchises and we've responded strongly,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will always be groups that seek to pirate our game for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the growth of talent. They only leverage the dedication of existing bodies, putting players at risk of economic hardship while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by private investors.

Subsequent to the prospective union sanctions were declared earlier, it stated: “We want to work collaboratively as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is structured with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will allow all athletes for test matches, as written into their agreements.”

R360 will request authorization for its plans from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.