R360 Athletes Subject to 10-Year Ban from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that players who enter the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for a decade.

The new league, set to start in 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a condensed game calendar.

Leading rugby league players have reportedly been approached by R360, which will include multiple men's clubs and women's teams based in large metropolitan areas globally.

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

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

Several leading rugby union teams, such as Australia, earlier imposed a restriction on players joining R360 playing global fixtures.

“We have consulted our teams and we've responded strongly,” commented the league's chairman V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will always be organizations that seek to pirate our code for potential financial gain.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the advancement of athletes. They merely capitalize on the efforts of others, putting players at risk of monetary damage while gaining personally.

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

The organization is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

After the potential union prohibitions were declared recently, it said: “We seek to cooperate together as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The event is designed with customized calendars for both genders and the organization will permit participants for global fixtures, as specified in their deals.”

R360 will seek approval for its plans from World Rugby, the sport's governing body, at its official gathering next year.