R360 League Recruits Hit With 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League

Rugby league's governing body has declared that participants who enter the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for a decade.

R360, which plans to launch in October 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Prominent National Rugby League stars have reportedly received offers by the breakaway group, which will involve six to eight men's teams and four women's teams based in key urban centers around the world.

Samoa's the player, who represents the Warriors in the NRL, has said he has had discussions with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from R360.

A group of rugby union nations, among them Australia, last week imposed a ban on R360 recruits playing global fixtures.

“We heard our franchises and we've acted decisively,” commented ARLC chairman the official.

“Regrettably, there will continually be organizations that seek to pirate our sport for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the growth of talent. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

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

R360 is co-founded by retired international Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

Following the prospective rugby union sanctions were announced recently, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The event is arranged with customized calendars for male and female sides and the organization will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as written into their agreements.”

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