R360 Players Subject to 10-Season Ban from NRL

Australian rugby league's authority has stated that participants who sign with the “breakaway” R360 will be barred for a decade.

R360, which plans to launch in late 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with lucrative deals and a condensed fixture list.

Leading NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include six to eight men's clubs and four women's sides located in major cities around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents New Zealand Warriors in the league, has stated he has had negotiations involving the new organization.

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

A group of rugby union countries, among them Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 participating in international matches.

“We've listened to our franchises and we've acted decisively,” commented the league's chairman the official.

“Unfortunately, there will always be organizations that try to exploit our sport for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the growth of athletes. They merely capitalize on the hard work of others, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

“In truth, they represent, copying the game.”

R360 is established by retired international Mike Tindall and funded by private investors.

Following the potential rugby union prohibitions were announced earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate together as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The event is arranged with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and we will release all players for test matches, as included in their deals.”

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