The NRL could be forced into a major scheduling headache if its legal battle with New Zealand Rugby over the naming of the incoming PNG Chiefs franchise ends in defeat.
New Zealand Rugby and the Waikato-based Super Rugby outfit, the Chiefs, have launched legal action against the NRL and Papua New Guinea over the name of the competition’s 19th franchise, which is scheduled to enter the league in 2028.
Founded in 1996, the Chiefs hold intellectual property rights over the name in New Zealand and Australia, while their logo is protected in New Zealand.
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 20: Tyrone Thompson and John Ryan of the Chiefs talk after winning the round 13 Super Rugby Pacific match between Chiefs and Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato, on May 20, 2023, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
The dispute reached the Australian courts this week, with a judge rejecting a bid for an injunction that would have prevented the NRL from proceeding with the PNG Chiefs name.
However, the legal battle is still not over, with a New Zealand court still set to rule on the matter early next year.
Should the NRL lose that case, the competition could be forced to reconsider the name of its newest club, potentially creating significant complications ahead of its long-awaited introduction.
In response to the ongoing dispute, the NRL and the PNG Chiefs have indicated they would refuse to play matches in New Zealand if they are forced to change the name, with Peter V’landys backing the hardline stance.
Such a move would have significant ramifications for the NRL draw, which currently relies on the New Zealand Warriors to host home fixtures across the Tasman.
If the PNG Chiefs refuse to travel to New Zealand, rival clubs could be forced to play additional away games in the country to accommodate the schedule, or the Warriors could be left disadvantaged if they lose home fixtures as a result.
The situation threatens to create a scheduling nightmare for the competition, with the NRL needing to balance the demands of its existing clubs while accommodating its newest addition.
The legal dispute comes at a significant time for the PNG Chiefs, who are preparing to unveil their inaugural logo and jersey next week as preparations continue for their entry into the competition.
For now, the NRL has avoided an immediate setback in Australia, but the upcoming New Zealand court decision could determine whether the PNG Chiefs name survives, and whether the competition faces an unprecedented challenge to its future scheduling.