R360 Recruits Face 10-Year Ban from NRL
The athlete won 20 caps for the Kiwis before changing loyalty to Samoa.
The NRL's authority has stated that participants who sign with the “counterfeit” R360 competition will be banned for a decade.
The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in late 2026, is aiming to attract players from union and league with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.
Top National Rugby League stars have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will feature multiple men's teams and four women's teams located in major cities globally.
The Samoan the player, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has confirmed he has had discussions with the breakaway league.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Jye Gray are also reported to be thinking about signing R360.
A group of union countries, among them Australia, recently declared a prohibition on players joining R360 appearing in global fixtures.
“We have consulted our clubs and we've taken firm action,” commented the league's head Peter V'Landys.
“Sadly, there will persistently exist groups that attempt to hijack our code for potential financial gain.
“They don't invest in development systems or the advancement of talent. They simply exploit the efforts of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of economic hardship while profiting themselves.
“In truth, they represent, copying the game.”
The organization is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.
After the possible union bans were announced last week, it commented: “We aim to collaborate together as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.
“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for both genders and R360 will allow all athletes for test matches, as written into their agreements.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, union's governing body, at its council meeting next year.
