NRL defends PNG Chiefs

The National Rugby League in Australia stand ready to defend New Zealand’s High Court injunction to stop NRL’s incoming franchise PNG Chiefs from using the Chiefs name.

NRL Chairman Peter V’Landys says they will be defending the matter vigorously.

“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,” V’Landys said.

“Rugby Union is obviously feeling threatened by Rugby League in New Zealand, with sell-outs at most Rugby League games.”

New Zealand Rugby mentioned in a statement this week saying it is seeking both an interim and final injunction to stop the use of the name "PNG Chiefs", "Chiefs" or any other similar names in New Zealand.

Meanwhile the PNG Chiefs official are set to officially announce its official logo on October 21st.

The PNG Chiefs also stated that they will not comment further on this matter, because it is an ongoing legal matter, and they are focused on launching their logo on the set dates.

Radio New Zealand reported that the Chiefs Super Rugby club have argued that allowing another professional sporting franchise to use the same name in the same trans-Tasman market risks undermining a brand it has spent three decades building.