R360 Competition Athletes Hit With Decade-Long Ban from Australia's Rugby League

The NRL's governing body has announced that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for a decade.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Prominent rugby league stars have reportedly received offers by R360, which will include multiple men's sides and four women's teams based in key urban centers around the world.

The Samoan the player, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also believed to be weighing up offers from the rebel league.

Several leading union nations, such as Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on players joining R360 appearing in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've taken firm action,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will persistently exist entities that seek to pirate our game for monetary profit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the advancement of talent. They only leverage the dedication of other organizations, endangering athletes of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

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

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

After the potential rugby union sanctions were revealed recently, it said: “We want to work together as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The competition is structured with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for global fixtures, as written into their deals.”

The new league will seek approval for its plans from the international authority, rugby union's regulatory group, at its council meeting next year.