R360 League Athletes Hit With 10-Season Ban from National Rugby League

Rugby league's governing body has announced that athletes who sign with the “breakaway” R360 will be banned for 10 years.

The proposed competition, set to start in 2026, is aiming to attract rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a reduced fixture list.

Leading National Rugby League stars have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and women's teams based in large metropolitan areas worldwide.

Samoa's the player, who represents his NRL club in the league, has confirmed he has had talks with the breakaway league.

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

Eight major rugby union teams, among them Australia, earlier declared a ban on players joining R360 participating in test matches.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've responded strongly,” commented ARLC chief V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will continually be organizations that attempt to hijack our code for potential financial gain.

“They fail to contribute in pathways or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of others, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.

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

R360 is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

After the prospective rugby union prohibitions were declared recently, it commented: “We aim to collaborate together as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The series is arranged with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as included in their deals.”

The new league will request authorization for its initiatives from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session in the coming year.