R360 Competition Players Face 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

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

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.

Top NRL athletes have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will involve six or eight men's sides and women's teams located in major cities around the world.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who represents his NRL club in the competition, has said he has had discussions with the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing the new competition.

Several leading union teams, among them Australia, earlier imposed a ban on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.

“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's chairman the official.

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

“They avoid funding in pathways or the advancement of talent. They merely capitalize on the hard work of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while gaining personally.

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

The organization is launched by retired international Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

Following the possible union sanctions were declared recently, it stated: “We want to work together as part of the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is designed with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for test matches, as written into their contracts.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, union's governing body, at its council meeting in 2026.