Photo credit: gETTY iMAGES
A rebel rugby competition has shaken up the end of the NRL season as R360 allegedly approached players with huge pay packages to leave the NRL.
R360 is a rugby union competition set on poaching players from the NRL to fill eight mens teams and four women’s teams, all registered with the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation. Major names have already been targeted, causing havoc for the future of the NRL.
The logistics of their game won’t just be in Australia, instead each game will be played in a different city globally, running similar to Rugby 7’s, while having some aspects from cricket’s IPL franchise set up. This move will controversially provide some serious groundwork for building the sport of rugby union and its popularity – which means using some of the biggest, well-known names from the NRL.
Two players are linked to the rumoured new competition, with Parramatta Eels’ Zac Lomax allegedly on the verge of signing on with the league, while Melbourne Storm’s Ryan Papenhuyzen has been the latest interest in the partnership. Prior to this news, New Zealand’s very own Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been linked to R360.
Mike Tindall, former England World Cup winner, is the Co-Founder of R360, and the face of the competition. Others involved are known as high profile agent’s Mark Spoors and John Loffhagen.
Drafting for teams will begin in July 2026, which will allocate players for each of the twelve teams of the new rugby competition, while long term contracts will be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Chairman of ARLC, Peter V’Landys has spoken out in regards to the threat of the new rebel league, issuing a warning to NRL players.
“The clubs want the NRL to take some pretty harsh action, and we’re considering it,” while he expresses it could be nothing more than speculation, but the message is clear.
“If you’ve got a contract with the NRL, we expect you to honour it. And if you don’? There’s gonna be consequences.” V’Landy’s said.
R360’s first game is allegedly rumoured to begin on the 2nd of October 2026, which is when the 2026 NRL Grand Final is expected to be played.
Until next time,
Tayla Talks
Tayla Talks 
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