The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) will appeal the International Rugby League’s (IRL) decision last week to expel their membership.

In a statement [2] dated 17 February, the IRL explained the decision was made at a board meeting on 13 February, “after the Directors carefully considered the position of Tonga National Rugby League, which has been suspended since October 2019, in the light of a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders in the Tongan game”.

“After that meeting, the Board wrote to TNRL, advising them of the resolution passed at that meeting, which is to expel TNRL from the membership.”

TNRL Chairman, George Koloamatangi, told Matangi Tonga they will appeal the decision.

“The meeting was on the 13^th, we were advised on Monday 17^th. Our appeal will be sent today.”

“Once they receive our appeal, they will then call a General Meeting of the members to decide on their decision,” he said.

“The vote has to be unanimous in order for us to be expelled. If it goes against us we then can take our case to the Court of Arbitration for sports.”

Background

The TNRL was suspended last October following a dispute with Mate Ma’a Tonga players after they let go of Coach Kristian Woolf, with players threatening to boycott games unless a new board was established.

This was prior to two test matches against Great Britain and Australia held late last year.

Following the TNRL suspension, TNRL were uninvited to field a Tongan team in the Rugby League World Cup 9’s competition held in Sydney last year, as well as the two test matches.

However, a Tongan team played in the World Cup 9s under a different governing body. And a Tonga Invitational XIII rugby league team, along with coach Kristian Woolf, was formed under an unknown third party, and invited to field a Tongan team for the two test matches. 

The players and coach have since maintained that new governance reform in Tonga is needed.

The issue needs to be solved ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.