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.
