R360 Competition Players Hit With 10-Year Exclusion from National Rugby League
The athlete gained 20 international appearances for the All Blacks before switching representation to Samoa.
Australian rugby league's administration has announced that players who join the “counterfeit” R360 competition will be barred for 10 seasons.
R360, set to start in 2026, is seeking to lure players from union and league with lucrative deals and a reduced fixture list.
Leading NRL stars have reportedly received offers by R360, which will include six to eight men's clubs and four women's sides located in large metropolitan areas worldwide.
Samoa's the player, who represents his NRL club in the competition, has confirmed he has had talks with R360.
Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Haas and Gray are also believed to be considering joining the new competition.
A group of union countries, among them Australia, earlier declared a ban on athletes signing with R360 participating in international matches.
“We heard our teams and we've acted decisively,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission chief V'Landys.
“Regrettably, there will continually be organizations that try to exploit our sport for monetary profit.
“They fail to contribute in pathways or the advancement of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of other organizations, endangering athletes of financial loss while gaining personally.
“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”
R360 is established by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by independent financiers.
After the potential rugby union bans were revealed last week, it stated: “We aim to collaborate together as a component of the international rugby schedule.
“The event is designed with tailored timetables for men's and women's teams and R360 will allow all athletes for test matches, as included in their contracts.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its proposals from World Rugby, rugby union's administrative organization, at its board session in 2026.
