R360 League Players Subject to 10-Season Exclusion from NRL

The NRL's authority has announced that athletes who sign with the “rebel” R360 league will be banned for a decade.

The new league, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with substantial agreements and a condensed game calendar.

Prominent National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will feature multiple men's teams and four women's sides located in large metropolitan areas worldwide.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who represents his NRL club in the league, has stated he has had talks with R360.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Eight major rugby union nations, among them Australia, recently imposed a ban on athletes signing with R360 participating in test matches.

“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” commented ARLC head V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will always be groups that attempt to hijack our game for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the development of athletes. They merely capitalize on the dedication of others, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”

The league is established by retired international Tindall and supported by private investors.

After the potential rugby union prohibitions were revealed earlier, it said: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and we will allow all athletes for international matches, as written into their agreements.”

The new league will request authorization for its plans from the international authority, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.