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

The NRL's authority has announced that participants who enter the “counterfeit” R360 league will be banned for 10 years.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in late 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with substantial agreements and a reduced fixture list.

Leading NRL stars have reportedly been approached by R360, which will feature six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams operating from key urban centers around the world.

Representing Samoa the player, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has stated he has had talks with the new organization.

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

Eight major union nations, among them Australia, recently announced a ban on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.

“We have consulted our clubs and we've taken firm action,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission chief V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will continually be organizations that seek to pirate our sport for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the growth of talent. They simply exploit the hard work of others, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, imitating the sport.”

The organization is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the possible union prohibitions were declared earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as a component of the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is designed with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and the organization will permit participants for test matches, as included in their agreements.”

R360 will seek approval for its initiatives from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering in 2026.