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NRL announce monster ban for players who join R360
Sam Kosack • October 15th, 2025 4:25 pm
The NRL have confirmed any player who joins R360 will receive a 10-year ban from the NRL or any ARLC-sanctioned competitions in a major blow-up to the rebel competition.
The NRL today released a media release outlining the ban for players or player agents who sign a letter of intent, contract, or any other form of agreement with a competition not recognised as a national sporting federation by the Australian Rugby League Commission.
It comes as rumours around players negotiating with, or joining, the R360 competition have been rife, with the game’s biggest names, including Zac Lomax, Payne Haas, and Ryan Papenhuyzen linked to the competition.
Peter V’Landys called the ban an act “in the best interest of the league”.
“The Commission has a clear duty to act in the best interests of Rugby League and its fans—and we will take all necessary steps to protect the future of the game,” V’Landys said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, there will always be organisations that seek to pirate our game for potential financial gain.
“They don’t invest in pathways or the development of players —they simply exploit the hard work of others, putting players at risk of financial loss while profiting themselves. They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.
“Accordingly if it all goes wrong it’s the players who suffer most. Every stakeholder must be accountable to the standards our fans expect. We’ve listened to our Clubs, and we’ve acted decisively.”
The ARLC will maintain the right to review or lift bands in “exceptional circumstances”.
Read the full statement below:
“Any NRL Player who negotiates, signs, or enters into a Letter of Intent, Playing Contract, or any other form of agreement—whether verbal or written—with a football competition, league, or organisation not recognised by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) as a national sporting federation, will be banned from participation in the NRL and any ARLC-sanctioned competitions for a period of ten (10) years.
“Any NRL Accredited Player Agent who acts for, assists, represents, or advises a player in any capacity in relation to dealings with, or the signing of, a Letter of Intent or Playing Contract with a football competition that is not recognised by the ARLC as a national sporting federation, will be subject to the same ten (10) year ban from NRL-related activities, including accreditation renewal.
“The ARLC retains sole and absolute discretion to review or lift a ban imposed under this provision only in exceptionally extenuating circumstances, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.”\
Why the R360 is just another flawed and misguided rugby concept | Scotty & Izzy
