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

Rugby league's governing body has announced that players who sign with the “rebel” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 years.

The proposed competition, which plans to launch in October 2026, is aiming to attract rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a condensed fixture list.

Top National Rugby League stars have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will include multiple men's clubs and four women's teams based in large metropolitan areas globally.

The Samoan the player, who represents New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had talks with R360.

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

A group of rugby union teams, including Australia, recently imposed a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 participating in international matches.

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

“Sadly, there will persistently exist entities that try to exploit our sport for potential financial gain.

“They avoid funding in development systems or the development of talent. They simply exploit the hard work of others, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, copying the game.”

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

After the prospective rugby union prohibitions were revealed earlier, it said: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is arranged with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and R360 will release all players for test matches, as written into their contracts.”

The new league will seek approval for its proposals from the international authority, rugby union's regulatory group, at its official gathering next year.