R360 Competition Players Face 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League

The NRL's governing body has announced that participants who sign with the “breakaway” R360 will be barred for 10 seasons.

The new league, which plans to launch in 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a condensed fixture list.

Top National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will feature six or eight men's teams and four women's sides located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Representing Samoa Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has stated he has had negotiations involving the new organization.

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

Eight major rugby union nations, among them Australia, earlier declared a ban on players joining R360 appearing in test matches.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've acted decisively,” stated the league's chief Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our sport for economic benefit.

“They don't invest in development systems or the growth of talent. They simply exploit the hard work of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”

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

Following the possible rugby union sanctions were declared recently, it said: “We aim to collaborate in partnership as a component of the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is designed with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for global fixtures, as specified in their agreements.”

R360 will seek approval for its plans from the international authority, the sport's governing body, at its board session in the coming year.