NZ Rugby launches court action against NRL to have PNG Chiefs name changed

New Zealand Rugby has commenced legal proceedings in the High Court of New Zealand against the Australian Rugby League Commission to stop the use of the Chiefs name by the NRL's new Papua New Guinea expansion team. The governing body is seeking interim and final injunctions against the names PNG Chiefs and Chiefs, citing potential brand confusion with the long-standing Waikato-based Super Rugby franchise established in 1996.

NZ Rugby claims trademark rights in New Zealand and trademark protections in Australia, arguing that overlapping markets and sports justify the legal action. The move comes ahead of the PNG Chiefs' planned logo and jersey launch on October 21, 2026, while ARL Commission executive chairman Peter V'landys previously maintained that the NRL had no intention of renaming the Australian government-backed franchise.