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

The NRL's administration has announced that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for 10 seasons.

R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a condensed game calendar.

Top rugby league athletes have reportedly been approached by R360, which will feature six or eight men's teams and women's teams based in key urban centers around the world.

The Samoan Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the league, has stated he has had negotiations involving the new organization.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be considering joining the new competition.

Several leading union nations, including Australia, recently announced a restriction on R360 recruits participating in global fixtures.

“We have consulted our teams and we've acted decisively,” said the league's chief the official.

“Regrettably, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our code for potential financial gain.

“They don't invest in development systems or the development of talent. They merely capitalize on the efforts of existing bodies, putting players at risk of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

“They are, in reality, copying the game.”

R360 is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

Following the possible rugby union sanctions were revealed earlier, it said: “We want to work collaboratively as a component of the global rugby calendar.

“The event is structured with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as specified in their contracts.”

The new league will request authorization for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's governing body, at its official gathering in the coming year.