R360 Athletes Hit With 10-Year Ban from NRL

Australian rugby league's authority has announced that athletes who join the “rebel” R360 will be barred for 10 years.

R360, set to start in October 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a condensed fixture list.

Top rugby league athletes have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will include multiple men's sides and four women's sides operating from key urban centers around the world.

The Samoan Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents his NRL club in the NRL, has said he has had talks with R360.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from R360.

Several leading union teams, including Australia, recently announced a ban on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've responded strongly,” stated Australian Rugby League Commission chief Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will persistently exist groups that try to exploit our sport for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in pathways or the development of players. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, putting players at risk of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

“They are, in reality, imitating the sport.”

The league is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

After the possible rugby union sanctions were revealed earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The event is arranged with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for test matches, as written into their contracts.”

The breakaway group will apply for endorsement for its proposals from World Rugby, union's administrative organization, at its council meeting in the coming year.