R360 Athletes Face Decade-Long Exclusion from National Rugby League

The NRL's authority has declared that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

R360, set to start in October 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Leading rugby league athletes have reportedly been approached by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's teams and women's teams located in major cities globally.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for his NRL club in the NRL, has said he has had talks with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also believed to be thinking about signing the rebel league.

Eight major rugby union teams, such as Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 participating in international matches.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've taken firm action,” said the league's chief Peter V'Landys.

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

“They avoid funding in development systems or the growth of athletes. They merely capitalize on the efforts of others, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while gaining personally.

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

R360 is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

After the potential union bans were announced recently, it said: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The event is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and R360 will release all players for test matches, as specified in their deals.”

The breakaway group will apply for endorsement for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.