R360 Competition Recruits Subject to 10-Year Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won 20 international appearances for the Kiwis before transferring allegiance to the Samoan team.
Australian rugby league's authority has declared that athletes who enter the “counterfeit” R360 will be banned for a decade.
The new league, which plans to launch in October 2026, is seeking to lure athletes from both codes with substantial agreements and a slimmed-down playing schedule.
Top NRL athletes have reportedly received offers by the new league, which will feature multiple men's clubs and women's teams located in key urban centers globally.
Representing Samoa the rugby star, who plays for the Warriors in the NRL, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Gray are also said to be thinking about signing the rebel league.
Several leading union teams, such as Australia, recently declared a ban on R360 recruits appearing in international matches.
“We've listened to our franchises and we've acted decisively,” commented the league's chairman V'Landys.
“Sadly, 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 players. They only leverage the efforts of others, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while profiting themselves.
“Essentially, they are, counterfeiting a code.”
The league is co-founded by retired international Tindall and funded by private investors.
Subsequent to the possible union bans were announced last week, it stated: “We want to work together as part of the global rugby calendar.
“The competition is designed with tailored timetables for both genders and we will permit participants for global fixtures, as included in their agreements.”
R360 will request authorization for its proposals from rugby union's governing body, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session next year.