The threat of R360 is over for now after the NRL’s rival league announced debut would be delayed

Despite fears that many of the NRL’s top talent would jump ship for the rival competition, R360’s threat of poaching looks to be over after interested players were informed of the delay.

The threat of R360 is dead in the water in a stunning development that has dramatically boosted Brisbane’s bid to keep Payne Haas.

This masthead can reveal that R360 organisers contacted player agents on Friday night to inform them that the launch of the competition had been delayed until 2028.

The news comes after widespread speculation that competition organisers had failed to attract enough money to launch the competition at the end of next season, when it had been slated to begin.

Haas was among a host of NRL players who had been targeted by R360 and it is understood he was seriously considering a switch of codes given the money that was on offer - he was expected to earn as much as $3 million a season by joining the rebel competition.

The Broncos are now odds-on to keep Haas in their colours. The development will also have ramifications for Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen - both had been linked with R360.

Neither player is yet to determine their next move, although Lomax has a clause in his release that prevents him from playing for any NRL club other than Parramatta.

Lomax and RTS were both rumoured to be joining the competition.

Papenhuyzen is a free agent and is likely to attract significant interest from NRL clubs including no doubt the Perth Bears, who will enter the premiership at the end of next season.

News of R360’s demise, at least in the short term, is a victory for ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys, who had been an outspoken critic of the concept and warned players that it had no financial backing.

In the email sent to agents on Friday night, R360 officials said they had made a strategic decision to delay the start of their competition until 2028.

“We have some news that we want to make sure you hear from us first,” the email said.

“The R360 Board has today made the strategic decision to move to a full season launch in 2028, rather than two shortened seasons in 2026 and 2027.

“The rationale is straightforward: 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 2027 Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour.

“With our 2028 full season launch now confirmed we need to formally confirm the termination of the conditional player contracts provided.”

The news is a blow to Lomax in particular who walked away from a $700,000 contract with three years left on his Parramatta contract.

Papenhuyzen sensationally left the Storm last month.

While Haas was reportedly interested in a move.

It is understood he only had to pay a release fee if he joined R360. But under the release granted by the Eels he is unable to play for another club until 2029, meaning if he wanted to rejoin the NRL he must do so at the Eels.

Papenhuyzen was also granted the green light to leave the Storm with 12 months left on his contract. Unlike Lomax, his release was non-conditional which will allow him to join any NRL club should he want to in 2026.

Representatives for Papenhuyzen and Lomax had recently reached out to rugby in the US about a short-term contract before taking up deals with R360.

In an email sent on Friday night to the wider media, R360 maintained a brave face as they declared that they had bought themselves more time to strengthen their credibility in preparation for their launch in 2028.

“R360 has always been about supporting the long-term growth of the sport we love,” R360 board member Mike Tindall said.

“Our aim is to create a global showcase league that sits between international and club rugby - a competition that keeps fans engaged year-round, brings new audiences into the game, and elevates both male and female players on a global stage.

“International rugby attracts huge audiences and is one of the most compelling products in world sport.

What’s next for Lomax?

“But most players outside the biggest fixtures aren’t yet household names. Club rugby is vital to the rugby ecosystem however its reach remains limited to the core fans.

“There is a clear gap for a global, innovative competition that can broaden rugby’s appeal and inspire a new generation of fans - and our data consistently supports that need.

“As per many other sports, evolution is critical to broadening its appeal, finding new talent and realising commercial value. Cricket, Formula 1, football, sailing, golf, boxing, darts - to name a few - are all finding new ways to tell new stories to new audiences and building a stronger sport. This is rugby’s opportunity.

“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. 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.”

In their official statement, R360 also sought to clarify what they claimed was misinformation about the concept.

They insisted that the NRL’s threat of 10-year bans has minimal impact on their player recruits.

Tuivasa-Sheck was expected to make the move back to rugby union.

“There has been much misinformation briefed out about the league,” the statement said.

“Rather than rigorously address this on a case-by-case, R360 has kept its counsel to minimise the resultant impact on players and rugby stakeholders, while readying an exciting launch that would unveil the full proposition, involving more than 200 leading players in the game – many of whom have represented their nations in the Autumn Internationals series or who played at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“After players were threatened with the punishment of no longer representing their country or being banned from returning to the NRL, only a handful of players from around the world withdrew from the project.

“In the same period, R360 added a further dozen Test match players to its ranks. The pool of male and female talent is exceptional, from every tier one nation and beyond, and from the full age spectrum.

“No doubt today’s news will create a level of disappointment amongst the player pool, but we’re determined to launch in 2028 with a product players will fully support.”

Originally published as The threat of R360 is over for now after the NRL’s rival league announced debut would be delayed