Tonga's RWC team in limbo, as Court orders Tongan Rugby Union to meet [1]
Thursday, August 2, 2007 - 20:25. Updated on Sunday, June 15, 2014 - 20:12.
Tonga's Rugby Union has been ordered by the Supreme Court to hold an annual general meeting this month, in an ongoing dispute within the union that now means today's expected announcement of Tonga's 30-member Rugby World Cup team has been postponed indefinitely.
Chief Justice Anthony Ford ordered that the Tonga Rugby Union was to hold an Annual General Meeting no later than August 24. The court order was announced on Monday July 30 after a plaintiff, Sione Taumoepeau lodged an application with the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court against the CEO Siosaia Fonua on Friday, July 27.
The Chief Justice also ordered that decisions passed during an "Annual General Meeting" on April 26, 2007 and in a "Special General Meeting" on May 31, 2007 are suspended.
The defendant Siosaia Fonua and all members of TRU were told to work together to achieve this order, and if they failed to do so they would be held for Contempt of Court and would be liable for imprisonment.
The Legal Counsel for Sione Taumoepeau was Laki Niu.
Background
In March this year three Tonga Rugby Union Board members, Ricky Mafi, Filo 'Akau'ola and Feleti Fa'otusia resigned from the board, claiming that the other four members of the board, the CEO Saia Fonua, the Chairman Sangstar Saulala, Deputy Chairman Peseti Ma'afu, and two representatives of the private sector, Tu'i Uata and Tali Kavapalu had held their own separate meetings.
It was alleged that the four had made decisions without a proper board meeting and approval, and that the running of the TRU board was unconstitutional because it had not held any formal meetings for a very long time.
Meanwhile, the announcement of the 30-members 'Ikale Tahi World Cup Team, which was scheduled to be announced today, has been postponed indefinitely. According to a spokesperson at the TRU office the 'Ikale Tahi team will be announced after the AGM that has been ordered by the Supreme Court.