R360 Recruits Subject to 10-Season Suspension from Australia's Rugby League

Australian rugby league's authority has announced that athletes who sign with the “breakaway” R360 competition will be barred for 10 years.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in October 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Leading National Rugby League stars have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will involve six or eight men's sides and four women's sides operating from large metropolitan areas globally.

Representing Samoa the player, who plays for his NRL club in the NRL, has said he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also believed to be thinking about signing R360.

Eight major rugby union nations, among them Australia, earlier imposed a prohibition on R360 recruits playing global fixtures.

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

“Regrettably, there will always be organizations that try to exploit our sport for economic benefit.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the advancement of players. They simply exploit the dedication of others, putting players at risk of economic hardship while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

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

Following the potential union bans were announced recently, it said: “We want to work together as a component of the global rugby calendar.

“The event is arranged with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and the organization will release all players for global fixtures, as written into their contracts.”

The breakaway group will request authorization for its initiatives from World Rugby, the sport's regulatory group, at its board session in the coming year.