R360 Players Face 10-Year Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has announced that athletes who enter the “breakaway” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Leading rugby league players have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will involve multiple men's teams and women's teams located in major cities around the world.

Representing Samoa the player, who represents the Warriors in the NRL, has stated he has had discussions with the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from R360.

A group of union nations, such as Australia, earlier announced a ban on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.

“We have consulted our teams and we've acted decisively,” stated Australian Rugby League Commission head V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will always be groups that attempt to hijack our code for monetary profit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the development of talent. They simply exploit the hard work of existing bodies, endangering athletes of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

R360 is co-founded by ex-England star Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the potential union prohibitions were declared recently, it commented: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is arranged with tailored timetables for both genders and R360 will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as included in their contracts.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its plans from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's governing body, at its board session in the coming year.