R360 Recruits Face 10-Year Ban from Australia's Rugby League
The athlete won 20 test matches for New Zealand before switching loyalty to Samoa.
Australian rugby league's administration has declared that players who sign with the “breakaway” R360 will be prohibited for 10 seasons.
The new league, set to start in October 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down fixture list.
Top rugby league athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include multiple men's clubs and four women's teams operating from major cities globally.
The Samoan the rugby star, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has stated he has had talks with the breakaway league.
Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the new competition.
Several leading union nations, among them Australia, recently imposed a restriction on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.
“We have consulted our franchises and we've responded strongly,” stated ARLC chief Peter V'Landys.
“Regrettably, there will continually be entities that try to exploit our game for monetary profit.
“They avoid funding in pathways or the advancement of talent. They simply exploit the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of monetary damage while profiting themselves.
“Essentially, they are, imitating the sport.”
The league is launched by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.
Subsequent to the prospective union prohibitions were declared earlier, it commented: “We aim to collaborate in partnership as integrated into the global rugby calendar.
“The series is structured with tailored timetables for male and female sides and R360 will permit participants for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, union's governing body, at its official gathering next year.
