R360 League Recruits Face 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that participants who enter the “counterfeit” R360 will be barred for 10 seasons.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with hefty contracts and a reduced fixture list.

Prominent NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will involve multiple men's sides and women's teams located in key urban centers globally.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents his NRL club in the league, has confirmed he has had discussions with R360.

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

Several leading rugby union nations, among them Australia, recently announced a ban on R360 recruits appearing in test matches.

“We heard our clubs and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's head V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will persistently exist groups that try to exploit our game for economic benefit.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the advancement of players. They only leverage the dedication of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while profiting themselves.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

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

After the possible union prohibitions were declared earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate together as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is designed with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and the organization will release all players for test matches, as written into their deals.”

R360 will request authorization for its initiatives from the international authority, union's regulatory group, at its board session in the coming year.