New Zealand Rugby has filed High Court proceedings to stop the NRL’s Papua New Guinea expansion side using the name PNG Chiefs in New Zealand, and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has vowed to fight it.
NZ Rugby (NZR) is seeking both an interim and a final injunction to stop the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) using the names “PNG Chiefs”, “Chiefs” or any other similar names in New Zealand, according to a statement released by the Super Rugby Pacific club, the Chiefs, on Thursday 8 October.
The proceedings were filed in the High Court of New Zealand. 1News also reported the legal action.
Why NZ Rugby has gone to court
NZR says it owns the trademark rights for the word CHIEFS and the Chiefs logo in New Zealand, and has held trademark protection for the logo in Australia since 1998. The Chiefs have played in Super Rugby since 1996.
The statement says using the name for the NRL’s expansion team in the same markets would “cause significant confusion and damage”. It also notes IP Australia warned of a “real and tangible danger of confusion” when the ARLC applied for trade mark protection for “PNG Chiefs”.
“Regrettably, NZR has been unable to engage constructively with the ARLC towards a resolution,” the statement says. “It is now clear that, unless NZR takes this step, there will be no change to the team’s name ahead of the official launch on 21 October 2026.”
What the bosses said
NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster said in the statement: “For 30 years the Chiefs and their players have built an incredibly strong identity that is loved by fans. We have raised our concerns with the ARLC directly and consistently over the last year to find a resolution. We now have a responsibility to protect the Chiefs brand.”
“We want to be absolutely clear, this is not about league’s growth in the Pacific,” Lancaster said.
Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis said in the statement: “Teams in different sports and markets can exist alongside one another but the issue here is the similarity of our sports competing in the same market.”
Graafhuis told the NZ Herald that NZR was obliged under the Chiefs’ licence to protect the brand. “So, New Zealand Rugby’s only doing what they’re obligated to do and also what we’ve asked them to do,” he said, adding: “So, we’re obviously hoping to bring it to a conclusion before there’s a brand launch.”
V’landys hits back
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys responded on Thursday, saying the commission would fight the action and accusing NZR of hypocrisy, Fox Sports reported.
“We will defend this vigorously,” V’landys said in a statement provided to foxsports.com.au.
“The hypocrisy is mind-blowing, considering the Auckland Blues in 1996 used the NSW Blues name without any consultation or approval. The NSW Blues had been the Blues for in excess of 50 years before that.”
He added: “Rugby union is obviously feeling threatened by Rugby League in New Zealand, with sell-outs at most rugby league games.”
The PNG Chiefs told Fox Sports they could not comment on specifics because it is an ongoing legal matter, but said they were working with the NRL and were confident in the club’s position.
The PNG Chiefs so far
PNG Prime Minister James Marape announced the Chiefs name in October 2025, the ABC reported, and the club is due to debut in the NRL in 2028 with the help of a $600 million Australian Government funding package. The ABC also reported that the NRL had received three adverse reports from IP Australia in response to the club’s trademark applications.
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