R360 League Athletes Hit With 10-Season Ban from National Rugby League
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won 20 international appearances for New Zealand before changing allegiance to Samoa.
The NRL's authority has stated that athletes who join the “rebel” R360 will be barred for a decade.
The new league, set to start in October 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with lucrative deals and a reduced playing schedule.
Prominent rugby league players have reportedly been approached by the breakaway group, which will involve multiple men's teams and four women's sides operating from key urban centers around the world.
The Samoan Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with his NRL club in the NRL, has stated he has had negotiations involving the new organization.
Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also believed to be thinking about signing the new competition.
A group of union teams, such as Australia, earlier imposed a prohibition on players joining R360 playing test matches.
“We've listened to our franchises and we've acted decisively,” said the league's head V'Landys.
“Sadly, there will always be entities that seek to pirate our game for economic benefit.
“They don't invest in talent pipelines or the advancement of athletes. They merely capitalize on the hard work of existing bodies, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while profiting themselves.
“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”
R360 is co-founded by ex-England star Mike Tindall and backed by independent financiers.
Following the prospective rugby union sanctions were announced recently, it stated: “We seek to cooperate in partnership as part of the worldwide fixture list.
“The series is designed with bespoke schedules for both genders and R360 will release all players for international matches, as specified in their deals.”
The new league will apply for endorsement for its initiatives from rugby union's governing body, the sport's administrative organization, at its council meeting next year.
