year ban for joining rebel leagues

In short:

The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced a 10-year ban for any NRL player who agrees to join a football competition it does not recognise.

The statement follows several rugby union federations announcing that any player who signs with R360 will be banned from playing Test matches.

R360 is an upstart rebel rugby union league co-founded by former England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall.

The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced a 10-year ban for any NRL player who agrees to join a football competition not recognised by the ARLC, as speculation grows around big names joining a rebel rugby union competition.

The statement, released on Wednesday, follows several rugby union federations announcing a ban on playing Test matches for any player who signed with R360.

R360 is an upstart rebel rugby union league, co-founded by former England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall.

High-profile NRL players have reportedly been targeted by R360, which is yet to announce a launch date for its competition.

On Wednesday, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) said any player who even negotiated with a competition it did not recognise would face a 10-year ban.

The ARLC statement does not name any competition specifically.

"Any NRL Player who negotiates, signs, or enters into a Letter of Intent, Playing Contract, or any other form of agreement — whether verbal or written — with a football competition, league, or organisation not recognised by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) as a national sporting federation, will be banned from participation in the NRL and any ARLC-sanctioned competitions for a period of ten (10) years," it says.

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys said the policy was aimed at protecting rugby league's future and the sport's supporters.

"The commission has a clear duty to act in the best interests of rugby league and its fans, and we will take all necessary steps to protect the future of the game," Mr V'Landys said.

"Unfortunately, there will always be organisations that seek to pirate our game for potential financial gain.

"They don't invest in pathways or the development of players. They simply exploit the hard work of others, putting players at risk of financial loss while profiting themselves.

"They are, in reality, counterfeiting a code. Accordingly, if it all goes wrong, it's the players who suffer most.

Every stakeholder must be accountable to the standards our fans expect. We've listened to our clubs and we've acted decisively."

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