R360 Athletes Subject to 10-Season Exclusion from National Rugby League
The athlete gained 20 international appearances for the All Blacks before transferring loyalty to Samoa.
Rugby league's authority has announced that athletes who join the “breakaway” R360 competition will be banned for 10 years.
R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw players from union and league with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.
Top National Rugby League players have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will involve six or eight men's teams and women's teams operating from major cities globally.
The Samoan the player, who is with his NRL club in the league, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the new competition.
A group of rugby union nations, such as Australia, earlier declared a prohibition on R360 recruits playing test matches.
“We heard our clubs and we've acted decisively,” stated the league's head Peter V'Landys.
“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist entities that try to exploit our code for monetary profit.
“They fail to contribute in development systems or the advancement of players. They merely capitalize on the dedication of others, endangering athletes of financial loss while profiting themselves.
“They are, in reality, copying the game.”
The organization is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and funded by commercial backers.
Following the prospective rugby union prohibitions were revealed earlier, it commented: “We seek to cooperate together as a component of the worldwide fixture list.
“The event is structured with bespoke schedules for both genders and the organization will allow all athletes for global fixtures, as included in their contracts.”
R360 will request authorization for its initiatives from World Rugby, rugby union's governing body, at its official gathering in 2026.
