R360 League Athletes Face 10-Year Suspension from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that participants who sign with the “rebel” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 seasons.

R360, scheduled to begin in October 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Top National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will feature six or eight men's sides and four women's sides operating from major cities around the world.

Representing Samoa the player, who represents his NRL club in the NRL, has stated he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also believed to be thinking about signing the rebel league.

A group of rugby union teams, such as Australia, earlier declared a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.

“We heard our clubs and we've acted decisively,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission head Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be entities that attempt to hijack our sport for potential financial gain.

“They don't invest in pathways or the development of talent. They merely capitalize on the dedication of existing bodies, endangering athletes of financial loss while benefiting financially.

“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”

The league is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the potential rugby union sanctions were revealed earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The series is structured with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and we will release all players for international matches, as specified in their agreements.”

R360 will request authorization for its plans from rugby union's governing body, union's governing body, at its official gathering next year.