R360 Players Hit With Decade-Long Exclusion from NRL
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earned 20 international appearances for the Kiwis before changing allegiance to Samoa.
Rugby league's governing body has declared that athletes who join the “rebel” R360 competition will be barred for 10 years.
R360, scheduled to begin in 2026, is aiming to attract athletes from both codes with hefty contracts and a condensed game calendar.
Leading National Rugby League players have reportedly received offers by R360, which will feature multiple men's clubs and four women's teams operating from major cities around the world.
The Samoan the player, who plays for his NRL club in the competition, has said he has had talks with R360.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be considering joining the new competition.
Eight major rugby union nations, such as Australia, earlier declared a ban on players joining R360 participating in international matches.
“We've listened to our clubs and we've acted decisively,” said ARLC head Peter V'Landys.
“Sadly, there will always be entities that attempt to hijack our code for potential financial gain.
“They don't invest in talent pipelines or the development of players. They simply exploit the efforts of others, jeopardizing careers of monetary damage while profiting themselves.
“They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code.”
R360 is launched by retired international Mike Tindall and backed by commercial backers.
Subsequent to the prospective union prohibitions were declared earlier, it said: “We aim to collaborate together as part of the global rugby calendar.
“The event is arranged with tailored timetables for male and female sides and the organization will allow all athletes for international matches, as specified in their deals.”
The breakaway group will request authorization for its plans from rugby union's governing body, the sport's governing body, at its official gathering in the coming year.
