R360 League Players Subject to 10-Year Ban from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's authority has declared that players who sign with the “counterfeit” R360 league will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, which plans to launch in 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with lucrative deals and a reduced playing schedule.

Leading National Rugby League athletes have reportedly been approached by R360, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and women's teams based in large metropolitan areas globally.

Samoa's the rugby star, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.

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

A group of union nations, among them Australia, earlier announced a ban on R360 recruits playing test matches.

“We have consulted our teams and we've taken firm action,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our sport for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of players. They only leverage the efforts of others, endangering athletes of monetary damage while gaining personally.

“They are, in reality, copying the game.”

R360 is co-founded by retired international Tindall and funded by independent financiers.

After the prospective union sanctions were announced earlier, it commented: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The series is arranged with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as written into their contracts.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its plans from World Rugby, union's administrative organization, at its council meeting in 2026.