R360 Competition Players Hit With 10-Season Ban from Australia's Rugby League

The NRL's authority has declared that players who enter the “breakaway” R360 will be prohibited for 10 years.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Leading NRL players have reportedly been approached by the new league, which will involve six or eight men's teams and women's teams operating from key urban centers globally.

The Samoan Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the new competition.

A group of union teams, among them Australia, earlier imposed a ban on players joining R360 playing international matches.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's head the official.

“Sadly, there will always be organizations that seek to pirate our game for economic benefit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the advancement of athletes. They simply exploit the hard work of other organizations, endangering athletes of economic hardship while benefiting financially.

“They are, in reality, imitating the sport.”

R360 is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the potential rugby union bans were revealed last week, it said: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and we will permit participants for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its board session next year.