R360 League Recruits Face Decade-Long Ban from National Rugby League

Australian rugby league's administration has declared that participants who enter the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for a decade.

The new league, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Top NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will feature multiple men's clubs and four women's teams located in major cities globally.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for his NRL club in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be considering joining R360.

Several leading rugby union nations, among them Australia, earlier announced a ban on R360 recruits appearing in international matches.

“We heard our franchises and we've taken firm action,” said the league's chief the official.

“Unfortunately, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our code for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of economic hardship while benefiting financially.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

R360 is established by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

After the potential union bans were revealed earlier, it said: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is arranged with customized calendars for both genders and R360 will permit participants for international matches, as written into their contracts.”

The new league will apply for endorsement for its plans from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.