Overview

• The ARL Commission announced 10-year bans for any player or agent who negotiates, signs or enters agreements with competitions not recognised by the ARLC.
• Chair Peter V’landys said the move protects the game’s future and accused R360 of counterfeiting the code.
• R360 co-CEO Mark Spoors called the threats sadly anticipated, framed the project as offering players free choice, and said the series remains on track for an October 2026 launch.
• The Rugby League Players’ Association questioned the legal basis of the sanctions and expects challenges in Australian courts.
• Rugby Australia has warned anyone who joins R360 would be ineligible for the Wallabies, Wallaroos or the Olympics, as reports continue to link several NRL stars to the proposed global, F1-style circuit with rounds in Cape Town, Tokyo and Dubai.