R360 breakaway rugby faces bans from unions and league bodies

R360, the proposed globetrotting breakaway rugby competition, faced fresh resistance this week after major national unions and Australia’s rugby league authorities announced bans intended to block players who sign for the venture from participating in established competitions and Test rugby. The move intensifies a dispute over the privately backed series, which organizers say will feature six to eight men’s franchises and four women’s sides and aims to stage matches in major cities from 2026.

Eight national unions representing some of the sport’s largest countries recently declared that players who join R360 would be ineligible for national team selection. Australia’s rugby league authorities took an even tougher line, with the Australian Rugby League Commission and the National Rugby League announcing that any NRL player who negotiates, signs or enters into an agreement with an unrecognised competition would face a 10 year ban from participation in NRL competitions. The ban also covers NRL accredited agents who advise or assist players linked to R360, although appeals will be considered on a case by case basis.

ARLC chairman Peter Vlandys said organisations that seek to...