ð Share this article R360 Recruits Face Decade-Long Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League The athlete won 20 caps for New Zealand before switching allegiance to the Samoan team. Rugby league's authority has announced that players who sign with the âbreakawayâ R360 will be barred for 10 years. The new league, scheduled to begin in October 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a slimmed-down playing schedule. Leading National Rugby League players have reportedly received offers by the breakaway group, which will feature six or eight men's sides and women's teams based in major cities globally. Samoa's the player, who is with the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had discussions with the new organization. Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing R360. Eight major rugby union countries, among them Australia, last week announced a ban on R360 recruits participating in global fixtures. âWe heard our clubs and we've responded strongly,â stated the league's chief the official. âSadly, there will continually be groups that attempt to hijack our game for economic benefit. âThey don't invest in pathways or the growth of athletes. They merely capitalize on the efforts of others, putting players at risk of monetary damage while profiting themselves. âIn truth, they represent, copying the game.â The organization is launched by ex-England star Mike Tindall and supported by commercial backers. After the potential rugby union prohibitions were announced last week, it said: âWe seek to cooperate in partnership as integrated into the worldwide fixture list. âThe event is designed with bespoke schedules for male and female sides and R360 will release all players for test matches, as written into their contracts.â R360 will seek approval for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's regulatory group, at its board session in the coming year.