R360 League Athletes Hit With 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

Rugby league's administration has declared that players who sign with the “breakaway” R360 will be banned for 10 seasons.

The new league, which plans to launch in October 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down fixture list.

Prominent NRL athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include multiple men's teams and women's teams operating from key urban centers worldwide.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had talks with the breakaway league.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing the new competition.

Eight major union countries, among them Australia, earlier announced a restriction on R360 recruits appearing in test matches.

“We have consulted our teams and we've taken firm action,” stated the league's head the official.

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

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the development of talent. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while gaining personally.

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

The league is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by private investors.

After the possible union bans were announced recently, it stated: “We seek to cooperate together as a component of the international rugby schedule.

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

The breakaway group will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.