Media Insider: Chiefs v Chiefs in High Court – NZ Rugby fights for name over NRL’s new Papua New Guinea team

New Zealand Rugby and the Australian Rugby League Commission have clashed in Wellington's High Court over the trademark of the Chiefs name. NZ Rugby is seeking an interim injunction to halt the branding and jersey launch of the NRL's new Papua New Guinea Chiefs franchise, scheduled for next week. Following an initial hearing before Justice Karen Grau, the court scheduled a two-hour hearing for Friday afternoon to rule on the injunction.

NZ Rugby argues that the NRL's use of the Chiefs name will cause significant confusion and brand damage alongside its Super Rugby franchise. In response, ARLC legal counsel argued they were blindsided by the late filing after announcing the name a year prior. Furthermore, ARLC chairman Peter V'landys accused NZ Rugby of hypocrisy, pointing to shared team names across codes such as the Blues.