R360 League Athletes Hit With Decade-Long Ban from NRL

The NRL's authority has declared that players who enter the “counterfeit” R360 league will be prohibited for a decade.

The new league, set to start in 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Prominent rugby league stars have reportedly received offers by R360, which will include six to eight men's teams and four women's sides operating from key urban centers globally.

The Samoan the player, who is with New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has stated he has had discussions with R360.

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

Several leading rugby union teams, including Australia, earlier declared a restriction on athletes signing with R360 participating in test matches.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've acted decisively,” stated the league's chief V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will always be entities that attempt to hijack our code for monetary profit.

“They avoid funding in talent pipelines or the growth of athletes. They merely capitalize on the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of economic hardship while gaining personally.

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

The league is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and supported by private investors.

Subsequent to the possible rugby union prohibitions were declared recently, it stated: “We aim to collaborate together as part of the global rugby calendar.

“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for global fixtures, as written into their contracts.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its council meeting in the coming year.