R360 Competition Athletes Hit With 10-Year Suspension from National Rugby League

The NRL's governing body has announced that participants who sign with the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for 10 years.

R360, which plans to launch in late 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a slimmed-down playing schedule.

Prominent NRL stars have reportedly been approached by the breakaway group, which will feature six to eight men's sides and four women's teams located in large metropolitan areas worldwide.

The Samoan the rugby star, who is with his NRL club in the league, has stated he has had talks with the breakaway league.

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

Several leading union nations, among them Australia, earlier imposed a restriction on players joining R360 playing international matches.

“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's chief the official.

“Sadly, there will always be organizations that try to exploit our sport for monetary profit.

“They fail to contribute in talent pipelines or the growth of players. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, putting players at risk of monetary damage while profiting themselves.

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

The league is co-founded by ex-England star Tindall and funded by private investors.

Subsequent to the prospective union bans were revealed recently, it commented: “We want to work in partnership as integrated into the international rugby schedule.

“The series is arranged with customized calendars for both genders and we will permit participants for global fixtures, as written into their deals.”

The breakaway group will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's administrative organization, at its council meeting in the coming year.