R360 League Recruits Hit With 10-Season Suspension from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's governing body has stated that athletes who enter the “breakaway” R360 competition will be barred for 10 years.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down game calendar.

Top National Rugby League athletes have reportedly been approached by the new league, which will involve six or eight men's clubs and four women's teams located in key urban centers around the world.

Representing Samoa the rugby star, who plays for New Zealand Warriors in the competition, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also reported to be considering joining the rebel league.

A group of union teams, among them Australia, earlier imposed a prohibition on R360 recruits appearing in global fixtures.

“We have consulted our clubs and we've acted decisively,” stated the league's chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Sadly, there will continually be organizations that try to exploit our code for economic benefit.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the development of athletes. They simply exploit the efforts of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”

R360 is co-founded by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by private investors.

Following the prospective union sanctions were announced earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as a component of the international rugby schedule.

“The event is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”

R360 will request authorization for its proposals from the international authority, rugby union's governing body, at its council meeting in 2026.