R360 League Recruits Hit With 10-Season Ban from NRL

The NRL's administration has declared that athletes who sign with the “counterfeit” R360 league will be barred for 10 seasons.

The new league, which plans to launch in late 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with lucrative deals and a condensed fixture list.

Leading National Rugby League stars have reportedly received offers by R360, which will feature six to eight men's teams and four women's sides located in large metropolitan areas around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who plays for his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had discussions with R360.

Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also reported to be weighing up offers from the rebel league.

Several leading rugby union nations, such as Australia, earlier imposed a ban on players joining R360 appearing in global fixtures.

“We heard our teams and we've acted decisively,” stated the league's head the official.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist organizations that seek to pirate our code for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of monetary damage while gaining personally.

“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”

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

After the potential rugby union bans were announced last week, it said: “We seek to cooperate together as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is structured with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as included in their agreements.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its proposals from the international authority, the sport's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.