R360 Competition Athletes Face 10-Year Exclusion from NRL

Australian rugby league's authority has stated that players who enter the “rebel” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, which plans to launch in 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a reduced game calendar.

Leading rugby league stars have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will feature multiple men's clubs and four women's sides operating from major cities worldwide.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents the Warriors in the league, has confirmed he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also believed to be considering joining the new competition.

Eight major rugby union countries, such as Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on players joining R360 playing global fixtures.

“We heard our franchises and we've taken firm action,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chairman the official.

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

“They avoid funding in talent pipelines or the advancement of players. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.

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

The league is established by retired international Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

After the potential union prohibitions were revealed earlier, it stated: “We want to work together as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The event is designed with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and we will allow all athletes for international matches, as included in their deals.”

R360 will seek approval for its plans from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its board session in the coming year.