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ARL Commission / NRL threatening bans The Australian Rugby League Commission (and associated NRL leadership) has threatened 10-year bans for players or agents who negotiate, sign, or agree (verbal or written) with a competition (like R360) that is not recognised by the ARLC as a national sporting federatio
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What those bans cover
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Players: any agreement to join an unrecognised league would trigger a ban of 10 years from participation in the NRL or any ARLC-sanctioned competitions. News.com.au
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Agents: similar 10-year sanctions for NRL-accredited player agents who assist or advise players in these agreements. News.com.au
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Potential legal issues Some legal commentators have said that imposing bans or sanctions of this kind might face legal challenges, especially under employment/contract law — e.g. whether such bans are a restraint of trade.
Replies
I think this changes everything. The competition might not even be successful and fold instantly. Not worth the risk.
Tough when most players are just trying to pay their mortgage off and put their kids through school.
Don't think this is regally allowed, restriction of trade. Especially if they dont break a contract.
Well why is other Rugby competitons doing the same, the R360 can be bad for all rugby sports.
I doubt it applies to players who are off-contract. That wouldn;t legally fly.
Yeah that is a grey area. Say Papenhuyzen leaves in 2027, he is a free agent that's his choice and he is free to go. Someone like Lomax is in the harder spot.
It says any NRL player. If you are off contract you are not longer an NRL player, and presumably this would not apply.
Mind you, even if it does get up, I can't see it lasting more than one season. Looks like if anything they will stock their shelves with fringe and ageing players. Not exactly the spectacle they are making this out to be. Someone like Lomax could make the same money over a few years, why would he jeopardise that to make a very risky quick buck?
And it couldn't apply to players who are currently contracted, negoatiating to play R360 at the conclusion of their current contract. That would be a restraint of trade.
It could only apply to someone like Lomax, who is wanting to break a contract to go play R360.
Look, I would like to see how a player agent can be banned like this; tbh I do not give a rats about the R360 nor the NRL, the same NRL who are quick to change the rules etc as they see fit.
They let Moses back after what he did but deem this worse? F me
If I was offered the coin to play elsewhere for 3 yrs and make $6-8 Million or more and then set up my life, with the potential of less toll on the body, I would do it.
This will definitely make it a much harder decision now for Lomax. I reckon he will stay at Parra.