The former Directors of the Tonga Rugby Football Union Board led by Sione Taumoepeau as Chairman have been reinstated following a judgement made by the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on February 17.

Mr Justice Andrew overturned an interim order made on January 29 on behalf of the plaintiffs Siosaia Fonua and Sangstar Saulala, which granted their application to enter the Board.

The board of the TRU has been in dispute since the end of 2007 following the Rugby World Cup, when the four-year terms of a board led by Sangstar Saulala expired. Sione Taumoepeau became the new chairman of the board with new directors but their appointments were challenged by plaintiffs who claimed that they were not properly appointed under the constitution of the TRU. Sangstar and Siosiua were successful in their application for a court order to reinstate themselves to the Board on 29 January 2009. But it was this January order that was overturned on February 17.

Mr Justice Andrew said the original application was made ex parte and the interim orders granted were, that six defendants namely Sione Taumopeau, Mark Hojelsen, 'Ofa Fukofuka, Kepu Ngaluafe, Pita Hala'api'api and Fine Solo ceased from being Directors of the TRFU Board and thus confirmed Siosaia Fonua as CEO of the Board.

In return Taumopeau and his counsel Vuna Fa'otusia filed an application against this ex parte order and this was upheld by the judge who ordered they be reinstated as Board Directors.

The judge stated that the crux of the matter was the claim that neither the defendants nor any other persons had been appointed as members of the Board of Directors since the expiration of the four years terms of office of the previous appointed directors at the end of 2007.

In other words the Board of Directors was not properly appointed under the Constitution of the Tonga Rugby Football Union Inc., said the judge.

Meanwhile, Des Carter, the IRB administrator for TRFU said today, now that the February 17 court decision had reinstated Sione Taumoepeau as Chairman the TRU needed to call an Annual General Meeting.

"The meeting is to duly appoint the Board of Directors and this should take place soon, within 20 days," he said.