🔗 Share this article R360 Athletes Hit With Decade-Long Suspension from National Rugby League The rugby star won 20 caps for New Zealand before switching allegiance to the Samoan team. Australian rugby league's governing body has declared that participants who join the “counterfeit” R360 league will be banned for a decade. R360, set to start in October 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with lucrative deals and a condensed fixture list. Top NRL stars have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will feature six or eight men's sides and four women's sides operating from large metropolitan areas worldwide. Samoa's the player, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has stated he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league. Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be considering joining R360. A group of union countries, such as Australia, recently imposed a ban on players joining R360 appearing in global fixtures. “We've listened to our clubs and we've responded strongly,” commented the league's chief the official. “Sadly, there will always be entities that try to exploit our code for potential financial gain. “They don't invest in development systems or the development of players. They merely capitalize on the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of monetary damage while profiting themselves. “In truth, they represent, imitating the sport.” The league is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers. Following the prospective rugby union prohibitions were announced earlier, it said: “We seek to cooperate collaboratively as integrated into the global rugby calendar. “The competition is arranged with tailored timetables for both genders and we will permit participants for global fixtures, as specified in their contracts.” The breakaway group will seek approval for its initiatives from the international authority, union's regulatory group, at its council meeting next year.