R360 Competition Recruits Face Decade-Long Exclusion from NRL

The NRL's governing body has announced that players who join the “rebel” R360 competition will be banned for a decade.

The new league, set to start in 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Prominent rugby league stars have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include multiple men's clubs and four women's teams operating from major cities globally.

Representing Samoa the player, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be considering joining the rebel league.

A group of union teams, including Australia, recently declared a restriction on players joining R360 appearing in global fixtures.

“We have consulted our clubs and we've responded strongly,” stated Australian Rugby League Commission chairman the official.

“Sadly, there will continually be entities that seek to pirate our code for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of talent. They merely capitalize on the hard work of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

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

The league is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Tindall and backed by private investors.

Subsequent to the prospective union bans were announced recently, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is structured with customized calendars for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for global fixtures, as specified in their agreements.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its initiatives from rugby union's governing body, union's governing body, at its official gathering in 2026.