'Out of a Corn Flakes box': Peter V'landys dismisses R360, cautions NRL players against contract breach

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys has dismissed the proposed rebel rugby competition, R360, as a "competition out of a Corn Flakes box".

The new league, fronted by former England rugby star Mike Tindall, threatens to poach top talent from domestic and international structures in both rugby league and rugby union.

Backed by significant private investment but currently operating without World Rugby's regulatory approval, R360 has aggressively targeted players from both rugby codes, notably the NRL, with several stars reportedly targeted with lucrative pre-contracts.

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At the announcement of the Kangaroos and Jillaroos squads on Monday morning, V'landys was quick to dismiss the competition's viability and seriousness, claiming that it lacks a business plan.

"Any competition that comes out of a Corn Flakes box, I'm not really concerned about it, because that's what it is, it's a completely unprofessional — they've got no business plan," he said.

"Any player who goes is really risking their career.

"They have to look at Salford this year in the Super League; it was a similar situation, the players didn't get paid.

"So, look, as I said, it's a competition out of a Corn Flakes box. I'm not going to be concerned about it."

V'landys used the financial struggles of the Salford Red Devils Super League club as a cautionary example of the career risk players take when a venture has poor financial stability.

Ahead of Sunday's premiership decider, V'landys was similarly asked for the NRL's stance on the competition.

In a mocking response, he initially confused the competition with a TV show.

"I thought they were talking about [Fox League show] NRL 360. I wasn't sure what it was, but look, there's been no business plan. It's all pie in the sky," he told 2GB's The Continuous Call Team.

"Of what I have seen, it will never go."

Watch a full replay of the 2025 NRL grand final on 9Now.

The NRL has issued strong warnings about the consequences for players who join R360, particularly those currently under contract.

The competition is reportedly attempting to lure stars like Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Zac Lomax with offers up to $1.4 million a season, prompting V'landys to strongly advise players against breaching their current NRL contracts.

"Any player that's signing up to that and really jeopardising their future is silly, and I'd be changing my player manager if they're the ones that are putting them forward and getting money to put them forward," he said.

"They may not even start in that particular game and risk not coming back to rugby league, because the clubs are angry and the clubs do want us to take some action in relation to this.

"NRL 360 or whatever it's called, is gonna come along, but there's gonna be someone else, you know, thinking they can change the world in another six months. 

"What they have to understand is, if you're contracted to rugby league, you stay in rugby league. 

"What you do after that is a business of yours, but if you want to come back, you might not be able to come back."

With Lomax named in the 24-player squad to represent the Kangaroos for the 2025 Ashes Tour, coach Kevin Walters downplayed that links to R360 had an impact on his selection decisions.

"No, no concern, we've got the full support of the Commission on the selection of the side," he said.

"We're focusing on these three tests and what happens next year or in two years' time is out of our control and out of my control.

"What I can control is the selection of this team for the next Ashes series."

R360 is scheduled to kick off next October, featuring six men's and four women's teams.

Organisers plan to base franchises in major cities including London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Madrid.