R360 League Athletes Subject to 10-Year Suspension from National Rugby League

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

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.

Prominent National Rugby League stars have reportedly been approached by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams based in major cities around the world.

Samoa's the player, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had discussions with the breakaway league.

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

Several leading union nations, including Australia, recently announced a restriction on athletes signing with R360 appearing in test matches.

“We've listened to our teams and we've taken firm action,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chief the official.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist entities that attempt to hijack our game for potential financial gain.

“They don't invest in development systems or the growth of talent. They simply exploit the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of economic hardship while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

The league is established by ex-England star Tindall and backed by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the prospective union bans were revealed earlier, it stated: “We want to work together as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is arranged with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and we will allow all athletes for test matches, as included in their agreements.”

The new league will seek approval for its initiatives from World Rugby, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session in the coming year.