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The playing futures of NRL stars Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen are in limbo after rebel rugby competition R360 announced it is shifting its start date until 2028, delaying the intended launch in October next year.
The officials behind R360 revealed the new plans via emails to players and player agents on Friday night, before making a public statement soon after. The move comes after growing speculation that R360 had failed to attract enough investment to push ahead with an inaugural competition in 2026.
“We have some news that we wanted you to hear from us first. The R360 board has today made the strategic decision to move a full season launch in 2028, rather than two shortened seasons in 2026 and 2027,” R360 boss Stuart Hooper wrote in an email to agents.
“The rationale is straight forward: launching at full scale in 2028 creates the optimal environment across product, market, commercial and operational factors, and for our essential stakeholders – players, fans, partners. It aligns more cleanly with the global rugby calendar and ensures we enter the market at maximum strength to continue the momentum from the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2027 women’s British and Irish Lions tour.
“With our 2028 full-season launch now confirmed, we need to formally confirm the termination of conditional player contracts provided.”
In an email to players, the R360 bosses conceded the news would be a blow to those who had committed to the new entity, which plans to be a Formula 1-style franchise competition that travels to major cities around the world.
Mike Tindall is the face of R360, and the rebel rugby competition is going after big-name league players such as Payne Haas and Ryan Papenhuyzen.Credit: Graphic: Matt Willis
“We appreciate this will be a shock for some, and disappointing for all, but we’d like to explain the reasoning behind this decision. Before we do, we want to make clear that we were fully committed and had detailed plans in place to launch in late 2026,” the email from Mike Tindall, Hooper and others read.
“However, it has become increasingly apparent in recent weeks that a full season launch in 2028 will offer significantly stronger market conditions, greater commercial certainty, and a more favourable environment for you, the players, as well as for fans and our partners.
“A full season launch in 2028 means that we can:
- Go straight into a full season, rather than starting with two shortened seasons. Spend more time speaking with rugby stakeholders to ensure you are not penalised with your international careers for choosing where you want to play club rugby.
- Continue to build a commercial model that sees you paid fairly for the value you bring to the game.
Our ambition remains the same: that R360 will become an established part of the rugby calendar following the inaugural Women’s Lions Tour and Men’s Rugby World Cups in 2027.”
The news will all but ensure high-price R360 target Payne Hass stays in rugby league in the short term, but questions will now emerge about where Lomax and Papenhuyzen will play.
Lomax recently sought – and was granted – an early release from his four-year contract with the Parramatta Eels “to pursue opportunities outside the NRL”. The NSW winger had reportedly been in discussions with R360.
Papenhuyzen also left the Melbourne Storm with a year remaining on his deal, and has also been in talks with R360.
The NRL had announced it would ban any player who signed with R360 for ten years, but neither player was confirmed as having signed a contract with R360.
Parramatta’s release of Lomax – just one year into a four-year deal – also reportedly carried the condition he could not sign with another NRL club until 2029, unless it was approved by the Eels.
Most major rugby nations had also declared they would not select players for Test rugby from R360.
At least three current Wallabies players were also in discussions with R360, and had signed conditional agreements with the rebel competition. But they will also now have to wait until 2028 to make the jump.
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Former England star Tindall, who is one of the leaders of R360, told players as recently as September that R360 would proceed as planned in 2026.
“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,” Tindall said in a media statement.
“From day one, our commitment to players has been unwavering. Many of the world’s best female and male players continue to express strong interest in joining R360. 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.”
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