The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) will file a legal challenge after its suspension last night, 26 September, by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

In a statement released this afternoon, TNRL claimed they had been treated unfairly, stating that the suspension decision “challenges the sovereignty of Rugby League in Tonga".

The TNRL have been in a dispute with Mate Ma’a Tonga players after the board let go of coach Kristian Woolf earlier this month, with players threatening to boycott games unless a new board was established.

On 24 September, then Acting Prime Minister Hon. Semisi Sika wrote to the RLIF informing them that the TNRL were no longer supported by the government, local rugby league clubs, and representative players. He also requested that the RLIF support a new Tongan governing body to provide a stable environment for the rugby league sector.

After RLIF made its  decision, Australia’s NRL announced they would withdraw an invitation for a TNRL team to play in the World Cup 9s to be held in October, in Sydney, Australia. 

However, the Australian NRL and the RLIF would work to provide another opportunity for a Tongan team to play in the World Cup 9s under a different governing body.

Legal action

According to the TNRL, the matter had been forwarded to their legal counsel in Tonga and an application for injunction and claim was to be filed in the Supreme Court of Tonga today against the government and the competing Tongan association.

“Further, we have referred the matter to senior counsel in Australia to consider further action,” a statement said.

The TNRL Board also asserted that it had not been consulted and its side of the argument had not been sought. It felt “let down by the governing body where at no time did any person request information, seek evidence, nor did anyone interview any member of this Board or our accountant or auditor to arrive at the recent findings”.

The TNRL also stated that the Tonga Sports Council had been appointed as the body responsible for rugby league matters in Tonga. But TNRL had prepared court proceedings to challenge this appointment.