NZ Rugby and NRL clash in High Court over PNG Chiefs trademark and launch
NZ Rugby has taken the NRL to Wellington High Court, seeking an injunction to stop the Papua New Guinea Chiefs' jersey launch next week over trademark concerns.
A high-court dispute in Wellington pits NZ Rugby against the Australian Rugby League Commission over the planned PNG Chiefs franchise’s use of the "Chiefs" name and branding. NZ Rugby seeks an interim injunction to halt the jersey and brand rollout scheduled for next Wednesday, warning that the overlap with its Waikato Chiefs could cause lasting confusion and damage to its three-decade-old identity. Justice Karen Grau must decide whether to hold a two-hour hearing this week or postpone a full-day hearing to early next year, while the ARLC argues the filing was made without notice and blindsided them.
Lawyers Earl Gray and Joe Edwards exchanged accusations of hypocrisy, with the NRL pointing to other cross-code name sharing such as the Blues, and NZ Rugby emphasizing its longstanding concerns. The PNG Chiefs are not slated to compete in the NRL until 2028, yet the league aims to launch the brand now, prompting fears of market overlap among fans, sponsors and licensees. Both sides have indicated a desire for an amicable resolution, but the court’s next steps will shape the future of the brand dispute.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine whether a new NRL franchise can use a name that could dilute an established Super Rugby brand.
In this story
