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

Australian rugby league's administration has announced that participants who join the “counterfeit” R360 will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Prominent National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will involve six to eight men's teams and four women's sides based in major cities worldwide.

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

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also reported to be considering joining R360.

A group of rugby union nations, including Australia, last week declared a restriction on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.

“We heard our teams and we've acted decisively,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be entities that attempt to hijack our sport for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the advancement of players. They merely capitalize on the dedication of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while profiting themselves.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

The league is launched by ex-England star Mike Tindall and supported by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the possible rugby union bans were revealed recently, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the worldwide fixture list.

“The series is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for global fixtures, as written into their contracts.”

The new league will seek approval for its plans from rugby union's governing body, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering in 2026.