R360 League Players Face 10-Year Suspension from National Rugby League
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earned 20 international appearances for New Zealand before switching allegiance to Samoa.
The NRL's administration has declared that athletes who sign with the “counterfeit” R360 will be barred for 10 seasons.
R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw athletes from both codes with lucrative deals and a condensed game calendar.
Leading National Rugby League athletes have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include multiple men's sides and four women's teams based in major cities around the world.
The Samoan Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had negotiations involving the breakaway league.
Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also said to be weighing up offers from the rebel league.
Several leading rugby union countries, including Australia, earlier declared a ban on athletes signing with R360 playing international matches.
“We have consulted our teams and we've acted decisively,” commented ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys.
“Unfortunately, there will always be groups that seek to pirate our game for potential financial gain.
“They avoid funding in pathways or the development of players. They simply exploit the dedication of other organizations, jeopardizing careers of financial loss while profiting themselves.
“In truth, they represent, counterfeiting a code.”
R360 is co-founded by former England World Cup winner Tindall and backed by commercial backers.
After the prospective rugby union prohibitions were revealed last week, it stated: “We want to work together as a component of the international rugby schedule.
“The event is arranged with bespoke schedules for both genders and we will release all players for test matches, as specified in their contracts.”
The breakaway group will seek approval for its plans from World Rugby, rugby union's governing body, at its official gathering next year.
