R360 Athletes Face 10-Year Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Australian rugby league's governing body has declared that athletes who join the “counterfeit” R360 will be banned for 10 years.

The new league, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Prominent NRL stars have reportedly received offers by R360, which will include multiple men's sides and four women's sides operating from large metropolitan areas globally.

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

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

A group of union nations, such as Australia, earlier declared a ban on R360 recruits appearing in test matches.

“We've listened to our teams and we've acted decisively,” said Australian Rugby League Commission chief Peter V'Landys.

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

“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of talent. They simply exploit the dedication of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while benefiting financially.

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

R360 is established by retired international Tindall and funded by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the possible union bans were declared recently, it stated: “We aim to collaborate collaboratively as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for both genders and the organization will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as specified in their agreements.”

R360 will apply for endorsement for its initiatives from the international authority, union's administrative organization, at its board session next year.