R360 Competition Players Face Decade-Long Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Australian rugby league's governing body has stated that athletes who enter the “counterfeit” R360 will be banned for 10 seasons.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a reduced fixture list.

Leading rugby league players have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams based in key urban centers globally.

The Samoan the rugby star, who plays for the Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be weighing up offers from the rebel league.

Several leading union countries, such as Australia, recently declared a prohibition on players joining R360 appearing in international matches.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will continually be organizations that seek to pirate our sport for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in talent pipelines or the development of players. They simply exploit the hard work of others, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while gaining personally.

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

The league is launched by former England World Cup winner Tindall and funded by independent financiers.

After the potential union bans were declared earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the worldwide fixture list.

“The series is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for international matches, as included in their contracts.”

The breakaway group will request authorization for its initiatives from the international authority, rugby union's governing body, at its board session in 2026.