R360 Competition Recruits Face 10-Season Suspension from National Rugby League

The NRL's administration has announced that players who join the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for a decade.

R360, set to start in October 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a reduced game calendar.

Prominent National Rugby League athletes have reportedly received offers by the breakaway group, which will include multiple men's teams and women's teams located in key urban centers around the world.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents his NRL club in the league, has said he has had talks with R360.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the new competition.

Several leading rugby union countries, including Australia, recently declared a restriction on R360 recruits participating in global fixtures.

“We have consulted our franchises and we've taken firm action,” commented ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Regrettably, there will persistently exist entities that attempt to hijack our code for economic benefit.

“They avoid funding in talent pipelines or the growth of talent. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of economic hardship while profiting themselves.

“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”

The league is established by retired international Tindall and supported by commercial backers.

Following the prospective rugby union bans were announced earlier, it said: “We aim to collaborate together as integrated into the global rugby calendar.

“The competition is arranged with tailored timetables for both genders and the organization will release all players for international matches, as included in their contracts.”

The breakaway group will seek approval for its plans from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in 2026.