Good news for rugby league – especially in Australia.
13:31, 29 Nov 2025Updated 13:45, 29 Nov 2025
Brisbane Broncos and Samoa prop Payne Haas.
The start date for the proposed rebel rugby union competition R360 has been pushed back to 2028 – a hit that could benefit rugby league.
R360 has been reported to have targeted some of the biggest names in the NRL, most notably Samoa powerhouse prop Payne Haas, offering them huge contracts and commercial deals.
However, any moves to R360 would come with consequences. In fact, any rugby league player who moved to the rebel competition would be met with a ban, with NRL supremo Peter V’Landys threatening to issue ten-year banning orders.
But that hasn’t stopped R360 from gaining some significant traction within Australia. It has been reported to have been targeting some of rugby league and union’s biggest stars to play in ‘high-profile’ games between franchise teams.
It would be played in between the club and international rugby union calendars and was planned to launch at the end of 2026, with Haas reportedly one big target.
Elsewhere, Melbourne Storm full-back Ryan Papenhuyzen and Parramatta winger Zac Lomax were also reported targets and even secured releases from their club contracts next year.
But in a setback, R360 has now confirmed that it would be delayed two years from 2026 to 2028, with some suggestions that it has struggled to gain interest from the very top players.
Former England rugby union star Mike Tindall, a board member of R360, who in September said things were ‘on track’ for a 2026 launch, admitted: “The decision to shift our launch to 2028 is a strategic decision based on timing.
“Launching under compressed timelines would not meet the standards we set for R360, nor would it deliver the long-term commercial impact that the sport deserves.
“From day one, our commitment to players has been unwavering. We want them to thrive – not be placed under unnecessary pressure. Ensuring player welfare, supporting their international ambitions, and working collaboratively with the global game remain core to our approach.
“As a board, we remain absolutely determined to bring R360 to life at full scale and with maximum global impact. We’re building something bold and new that will resonate globally – and we cannot wait to show the world in 2028.”
Meanwhile, the setback in launch is certainly a boost to rugby league, in particular the NRL, which continues to go from strength to strength as a multi-million-dollar incorporation.
V’Landy’s has also confirmed the likes of Lomax are welcome to secure deals for 2026 and beyond, having been released from the Eels.