R360 Competition Athletes Subject to Decade-Long Ban from Australia's Rugby League

The NRL's administration has announced that participants who enter the “counterfeit” R360 league will be banned for 10 seasons.

The new league, scheduled to begin in October 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Top rugby league athletes have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will include multiple men's clubs and four women's teams based in major cities worldwide.

Samoa's the player, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has said he has had talks with the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing the rebel league.

Eight major union nations, including Australia, last week imposed a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 participating in test matches.

“We've listened to our teams and we've taken firm action,” stated ARLC chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will always be entities that attempt to hijack our sport for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of others, endangering athletes of monetary damage while benefiting financially.

“In truth, they represent, imitating the sport.”

The league is established by ex-England star Mike Tindall and funded by independent financiers.

After the potential rugby union sanctions were revealed recently, it said: “We want to work together as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

R360 will request authorization for its initiatives from World Rugby, the sport's administrative organization, at its council meeting in 2026.