R360 Recruits Hit With 10-Year Exclusion from NRL

The NRL's governing body has announced that athletes who enter the “rebel” R360 league will be barred for 10 years.

R360, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Prominent NRL athletes have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will feature six or eight men's clubs and women's teams based in key urban centers around the world.

Representing Samoa Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents the Warriors in the league, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving the new organization.

Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also believed to be considering joining the new competition.

Eight major rugby union teams, such as Australia, last week announced a restriction on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.

“We've listened to our clubs and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's head V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist groups that attempt to hijack our sport for economic benefit.

“They don't invest in pathways or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of economic hardship while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”

The league is established by former England World Cup winner Tindall and supported by commercial backers.

Subsequent to the potential union sanctions were declared recently, it stated: “We aim to collaborate together as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is arranged with customized calendars for men's and women's teams and we will permit participants for test matches, as written into their agreements.”

The new league will request authorization for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its official gathering in 2026.