R360 Competition Players Subject to 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League

The NRL's administration has announced that players who join the “rebel” R360 competition will be banned for 10 years.

The new league, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a reduced fixture list.

Prominent NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will feature six to eight men's sides and four women's teams based in large metropolitan areas globally.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who represents the Warriors in the competition, has said he has had talks with the new organization.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be considering joining the new competition.

Several leading rugby union teams, among them Australia, last week announced a ban on players joining R360 playing international matches.

“We heard our franchises and we've taken firm action,” said the league's chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will always be entities that seek to pirate our sport for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the development of players. They only leverage the hard work of other organizations, endangering athletes of financial loss while profiting themselves.

“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is launched by ex-England star Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the possible rugby union prohibitions were announced earlier, it stated: “We aim to collaborate together as part of the worldwide fixture list.

“The series is designed with bespoke schedules for both genders and we will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its council meeting next year.