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

Rugby league's governing body has declared that participants who enter the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for 10 seasons.

The new league, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Leading rugby league players have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams operating from large metropolitan areas globally.

Representing Samoa Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for the Warriors in the league, has said he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.

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

A group of union teams, among them Australia, last week imposed a prohibition on players joining R360 participating in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will always be organizations that attempt to hijack our game for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the development of players. They only leverage the efforts of others, putting players at risk of economic hardship while benefiting financially.

“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”

The organization is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by private investors.

Subsequent to the prospective union prohibitions were revealed last week, it stated: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as part of the international rugby schedule.

“The series is arranged with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and the organization will release all players for global fixtures, as included in their agreements.”

The breakaway group will request authorization for its plans from the international authority, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session next year.