The NRL’s taxpayer-backed Papua New Guinea team could be forced to ditch its Chiefs name before playing a single match, with New Zealand Rugby threatening legal action and some league fans supporting its stance.
The dispute has escalated just weeks before the PNG club plans to unveil its logo and jersey in Port Moresby next month.
Backed by a $600million Australian government package, the team is scheduled to enter the competition in 2028.
But NZ Rugby, which owns the Hamilton-based Chiefs Super Rugby franchise, has demanded the NRL reconsider the name.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, NZ Rugby wrote to league officials this week seeking discussions before the launch and warning it was prepared to defend its position.
Both teams use black, red and yellow, adding to the dispute over whether supporters could confuse the brands.
The PNG Chiefs could be forced to change their name before making their scheduled NRL competition debut in 2028. Pictured are the PNG Kumuls international side
The Hamilton-based Chiefs have used their name since 1996 and share PNG’s black, red and yellow team colours
The Australian government’s $600million package supports the PNG project and PNG Prime Minister James Marape (second from left) endorsed the Chiefs name
Several fans commenting on Reddit’s NRL forum sided with the rugby union organisation.
‘Same colours, same name, very similar sports,’ one wrote.
Another suggested the dispute offered a chance to start again.
‘Seems like an ideal opportunity to walk away from the extremely generic ‘Chiefs’ name and choose something better.’
Others proposed Pythons, Crocodiles, Vipers and Cassowaries, while one questioned why the new club had not adopted an existing PNG rugby league identity.
‘Don’t really understand why they didn’t use the Hunters branding.’
However, other commenters questioned the objection.
‘I don’t see the issue. It’s a different country and a different code. The Wests Tigers and the Richmond Tigers have existed in the same country for many years,’ one wrote.
Some NRL fans supported New Zealand Rugby’s objection, while others suggested alternative names including Pythons, Crocodiles and Vipers
The NRL has made a similar argument in its attempts to register the PNG Chiefs trademark.
Its lawyers pointed to sporting clubs around the world sharing names, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Exeter Chiefs.
But IP Australia found there remained a risk of confusion because the existing rugby Chiefs brand did not include a geographical identifier, the Herald reported.
The Australian Financial Review previously reported that NZ Rugby had held a trademark for its Chiefs logo since 1998.
The NRL applied to register ‘PNG Chiefs’ on October 14, 2025. NZ Rugby lodged a separate application for the word ‘Chiefs’ two days later.
Both organisations encountered objections involving existing trademarks, with the NRL facing problems covering clothing and entertainment.
Those registration obstacles are separate from the court action now being threatened.
NZ Rugby said its club had spent three decades establishing its identity.
The PNG club, which has already signed a host of big names including Jarome Luai (pictured) – plans to unveil its logo and jersey in Port Moresby next month amid the dispute
‘The Chiefs have been a professional rugby club since 1996 and has an established identity and fan base, both in the Pacific region and globally. This 30-year identity includes the Chiefs name, logo and distinctive colours,’ it told the Herald.
‘NZR can confirm we have corresponded with the NRL, including this week, about the decision last year to similarly name and brand a new rugby league team. NZR’s focus is on protecting the Chiefs trademark and working with all parties towards a positive outcome.’
The NRL declined to comment to the newspaper.
Changing the name would also mean revisiting a decision endorsed by PNG Prime Minister James Marape following a public survey and discussions involving both governments, the NRL and the club’s board.
‘Our thousand tribes were governed by chiefs,’ Marape said when the name was announced last October.
‘The name truly reflects our history where chiefs, both male and female, held our nation together.’
The club has continued preparations for its launch, announcing a Bank South Pacific sponsorship this week that it described as the largest in NRL history.
Its logo and jersey unveiling remains scheduled for October.
