R360 Competition Athletes Subject to 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League
The athlete earned 20 test matches for the All Blacks before changing loyalty to the Samoan team.
The NRL's governing body has declared that players who sign with the “breakaway” R360 competition will be barred for 10 years.
R360, set to start in late 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with hefty contracts and a condensed playing schedule.
Top NRL stars have allegedly been contacted by R360, which will include six or eight men's clubs and four women's sides operating from major cities around the world.
Samoa's the rugby star, who is with his NRL club in the league, has said he has had discussions with R360.
Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also reported to be weighing up offers from R360.
Eight major union nations, such as Australia, last week announced a prohibition on athletes signing with R360 participating in global fixtures.
“We've listened to our clubs and we've responded strongly,” stated the league's chief V'Landys.
“Regrettably, there will always be groups that seek to pirate our game for economic benefit.
“They don't invest in talent pipelines or the development of athletes. They simply exploit the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of financial loss while benefiting financially.
“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”
R360 is co-founded by ex-England star Mike Tindall and funded by private investors.
After the potential rugby union bans were announced recently, it stated: “We want to work together as a component of the global rugby calendar.
“The competition is structured with customized calendars for male and female sides and the organization will permit participants for test matches, as specified in their agreements.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its plans from the international authority, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session in 2026.
