R360 Competition Athletes Hit With Decade-Long Ban from Australia's Rugby League
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earned 20 caps for New Zealand before transferring representation to the Samoan team.
The NRL's administration has stated that players who enter the “rebel” R360 league will be banned for a decade.
The new league, which plans to launch in October 2026, is seeking to lure rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down fixture list.
Top National Rugby League stars have allegedly been contacted by the new league, which will include multiple men's teams and women's teams based in large metropolitan areas worldwide.
The Samoan the rugby star, who represents his NRL club in the league, has said he has had negotiations involving R360.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Gray are also believed to be considering joining the new competition.
A group of union teams, among them Australia, last week declared a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 appearing in test matches.
“We have consulted our clubs and we've responded strongly,” commented ARLC head V'Landys.
“Regrettably, there will always be groups that seek to pirate our sport for monetary profit.
“They don't invest in pathways or the development of athletes. They simply exploit the efforts of others, putting players at risk of economic hardship while profiting themselves.
“Essentially, they are, copying the game.”
The league is established by former England World Cup winner Tindall and funded by independent financiers.
Subsequent to the possible union prohibitions were declared last week, it stated: “We seek to cooperate together as integrated into the global rugby calendar.
“The competition is designed with bespoke schedules for men's and women's teams and the organization will release all players for global fixtures, as written into their agreements.”
The new league will apply for endorsement for its initiatives from World Rugby, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in the coming year.
