R360 Players Face 10-Season Ban from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that players who join the “rebel” R360 league will be banned for 10 years.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with substantial agreements and a condensed fixture list.

Leading NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will include six to eight men's sides and women's teams located in key urban centers worldwide.

The Samoan the rugby star, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has said he has had negotiations involving R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Eight major union teams, such as Australia, recently declared a restriction on athletes signing with R360 playing test matches.

“We heard our franchises and we've acted decisively,” said ARLC chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be groups that try to exploit our game for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the development of talent. They only leverage the dedication of other organizations, putting players at risk of financial loss while gaining personally.

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

The league is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the prospective rugby union sanctions were declared recently, it commented: “We want to work in partnership as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and R360 will permit participants for global fixtures, as included in their agreements.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, union's regulatory group, at its board session in the coming year.