R360 Recruits Face Decade-Long Exclusion from NRL

Australian rugby league's governing body has announced that athletes who enter the “rebel” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a condensed playing schedule.

Leading NRL athletes have reportedly received offers by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's teams and four women's sides based in key urban centers around the world.

The Samoan the rugby star, who is with the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with R360.

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

A group of rugby union nations, such as Australia, earlier declared a prohibition on players joining R360 appearing in test matches.

“We heard our teams and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's head the official.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist organizations that attempt to hijack our sport for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the advancement of athletes. They only leverage the hard work of others, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”

The league is established by retired international Mike Tindall and funded by private investors.

After the prospective union sanctions were revealed recently, it commented: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is structured with customized calendars for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for global fixtures, as written into their agreements.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's administrative organization, at its official gathering next year.