The NRL has vowed to ban any player who leaves the code for R360 for 10 years, as it fights to fend off the threat of the breakaway rugby competition.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NRL also threatened to ban any agent if they take a player to the rebel competition.
It is understood any player suspensions would not come into force until after the player has left the NRL, meaning defectors could still be free to play out 2026.
Clubs had discussed whether the rules could apply to all players who defected, or only those who broke contracts to do so.
But Wednesday’s statement makes it clear that the league wants to take action against anyone who leaves for a rebel competition.
V’landys has previously labelled R360 as a competition that has “come out of a corn-flakes box”, warning players risk not being paid by joining such leagues.
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“If it all goes wrong it’s the players who suffer most,” V’landys said on Wednesday.
“Every stakeholder must be accountable to the standards our fans expect. We’ve listened to our clubs, and we’ve acted decisively.”
The NRL would have a right to lift the ban, but says it would only be done in “exceptionally extenuating circumstances” on a “case-by-case basis”.
It comes after Rugby Australia last week banned any player who joins R360 from representing the Wallabies, with that stance taken by seven other countries.
“This policy reflects the united stance of the Commission and NRL clubs,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“We will not allow unrecognised competitions to undermine the integrity, professionalism and future of rugby league.”
