New Zealand Rugby Seeks Court Injunction Against PNG Chiefs Name

New Zealand Rugby announced on October 8 that it is filing proceedings in the High Court of New Zealand over the Australian Rugby League Commission's PNG Chiefs name. It seeks interim and final injunctions preventing the use of PNG Chiefs, Chiefs or similar names in New Zealand. NZR says it owns New Zealand trademark rights for the Chiefs word and logo, with the existing Super Rugby side competing professionally since 1996. It says discussions failed to resolve concerns raised after the expansion name was confirmed in October 2025, ahead of the new team's scheduled launch on October 21, 2026.