R360 League Athletes Face 10-Season Exclusion from NRL
The athlete won 20 test matches for the All Blacks before transferring loyalty to Samoa.
Australian rugby league's authority has declared that players who join the “breakaway” R360 competition will be prohibited for 10 seasons.
The proposed competition, set to start in late 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.
Leading rugby league athletes have reportedly been approached by R360, which will include six or eight men's teams and women's teams based in key urban centers worldwide.
Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who represents the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving R360.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the rebel league.
Several leading union teams, among them Australia, last week imposed a ban on athletes signing with R360 appearing in international matches.
“We heard our teams and we've responded strongly,” commented ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys.
“Sadly, there will continually be groups that seek to pirate our code for economic benefit.
“They don't invest in development systems or the growth of athletes. They only leverage the hard work of others, endangering athletes of monetary damage while benefiting financially.
“In truth, they represent, imitating the sport.”
R360 is launched by ex-England star Tindall and funded by independent financiers.
After the prospective union bans were announced earlier, it said: “We seek to cooperate together as part of the worldwide fixture list.
“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for male and female sides and R360 will permit participants for global fixtures, as specified in their deals.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its plans from World Rugby, the sport's administrative organization, at its board session in 2026.
