R360 League Players Face 10-Year Ban from National Rugby League

The NRL's authority has announced that athletes who sign with the “breakaway” R360 league will be barred for 10 seasons.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.

Prominent rugby league athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include six to eight men's sides and four women's sides based in major cities worldwide.

Samoa's the player, who plays for New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has said he has had talks with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Eight major union teams, such as Australia, recently imposed a restriction on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.

“We have consulted our clubs and we've acted decisively,” commented ARLC head Peter V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist organizations that seek to pirate our sport for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the advancement of talent. They merely capitalize on the dedication of existing bodies, endangering athletes of monetary damage while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, counterfeiting a code.”

R360 is established by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and supported by private investors.

After the potential union sanctions were announced earlier, it stated: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The series is arranged with customized calendars for male and female sides and R360 will permit participants for international matches, as specified in their deals.”

The new league will request authorization for its initiatives from the international authority, rugby union's regulatory group, at its council meeting in 2026.