R360 Recruits Face 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's administration has stated that athletes who enter the “counterfeit” R360 will be banned for 10 years.

The proposed competition, set to start in late 2026, is aiming to attract rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a reduced fixture list.

Leading National Rugby League players have reportedly received offers by R360, which will involve six to eight men's teams and women's teams operating from major cities worldwide.

Samoa's the rugby star, who plays for his NRL club in the competition, has stated he has had talks with the new organization.

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

Several leading rugby union teams, including Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on R360 recruits participating in international matches.

“We have consulted our teams and we've taken firm action,” stated the league's chairman the official.

“Sadly, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our sport for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the advancement of talent. They merely capitalize on the hard work of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”

The organization is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by independent financiers.

Following the prospective union bans were declared recently, it said: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The series is structured with tailored timetables for male and female sides and we will allow all athletes for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering in 2026.