"Pimple on the butt cheek": Voss responds to R360 ban threat

Players considering a defection to the rebel R360 league have been told they will not be eligible for international selection in a unified statement by rugby unions from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy.

At least 12 NRL players have been linked with a move to the league which is offering seven-figure salaries in a “Formula 1 style” global competition.

The league, backed by former England centre Mike Tindall, is hoping to establish eight men’s franchises and four women’s in 2026.

"As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition," the unions said in a rare joint statement on Tuesday.

"International rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game — from grassroots participation to elite performance.

"Undermining that ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of our sport.

"Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men's and women's players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”

The rugby unions do not feel like the R360 league has given sufficient information about how it plans to handle player welfare or accommodating international obligations.

A spokesperson from R360 was quick to respond.

"It's not always easy to embrace new opportunities, but as we've seen throughout history, it's essential for any sport to grow," a statement said.

"Our philosophy is clear — if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way?"

SEN's Andrew Voss has thrown his support behind the unions ban threat saying it's a credit to the sport that they are uniting against a threat that does not appear to have taken their international calendar into consideration.

"I stand with international rugby union," Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast. "This is a flash point overnight. If player XYZ form the Wallabies says I’m going to R360, Australian Rugby is saying ‘see you later, don’t let the door hit you on the way out’.

"They have joined together, and I say credit to them.

"They’re not saying life ban, but it rules you out. You sign now, you are gone effective immediately."

In terms of what the rebel league means for NRL, Voss said losing the likes of Payne Haas is a bigger blow to the domestic game than it is a benefit for R360.

"As a rugby league man I fall on my sword. It’s a pimple on the butt cheek of world sport," Voss said.

"It’s a small sport. Payne Haas, no one knows him in South America. No one in Europe or England knows him. You're paying this money for him, he would be a massive loss for us.

"A bigger loss than he is a gain. No one is saying 'I’m going to Madrid to go watch Payne Haas.'