R360 Recruits Subject to 10-Year Ban from NRL

Rugby league's governing body has announced that players who join the “breakaway” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

R360, set to start in 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with substantial agreements and a condensed game calendar.

Leading NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will feature multiple men's teams and women's teams based in key urban centers globally.

Representing Samoa Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for the Warriors in the league, has said he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the new competition.

A group of rugby union teams, such as Australia, earlier declared a ban on athletes signing with R360 playing test matches.

“We heard our clubs and we've taken firm action,” stated ARLC head Peter V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist organizations that try to exploit our code for monetary profit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the growth of talent. They simply exploit the hard work of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

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

The league is established by ex-England star Tindall and funded by independent financiers.

After the prospective rugby union prohibitions were declared last week, it commented: “We want to work in partnership as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The event is structured with tailored timetables for both genders and R360 will release all players for global fixtures, as specified in their agreements.”

The breakaway group will request authorization for its initiatives from the international authority, rugby union's administrative organization, at its council meeting in the coming year.