R360 Competition Recruits Subject to 10-Season Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Australian rugby league's administration has declared that athletes who join the “rebel” R360 league will be prohibited for a decade.

R360, set to start in late 2026, is aiming to attract rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Top National Rugby League players have reportedly been approached by the new league, which will include six or eight men's teams and four women's teams located in key urban centers around the world.

The Samoan the player, who plays for his NRL club in the NRL, has confirmed he has had discussions with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing R360.

A group of union nations, among them Australia, recently imposed a ban on R360 recruits appearing in test matches.

“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's head Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will persistently exist organizations that try to exploit our code for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the growth of players. They simply exploit the efforts of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while benefiting financially.

“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”

The organization is launched by ex-England star Mike Tindall and backed by private investors.

Subsequent to the possible rugby union prohibitions were announced earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The series is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and we will permit participants for international matches, as included in their deals.”

R360 will request authorization for its plans from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its board session in 2026.