NRL celebrates major win in bitter fight with rugby
New Zealand Rugby has lost its bid to have an interim injunction applied to the use of the Chiefs name and brand in its high-stakes battle with the NRL.
Justice Karen Grau declined the interim injunction in a major setback for NZ Rugby in the High Court at Wellington on Friday.
Chiefs fans in New Zealand are very passionate about their rugby team. Getty Images
Justice Grau is likely to publish her full judgment on Monday.
A full hearing on NZR’s case against the NRL is still on the cards at a later date, but the PNG Chiefs’ official launch will take place next Wednesday with NRL bosses celebrating a legal victory.
“They’ve brought this issue on themselves and inexplicably, now want to get away with it,” NZ Rugby’s barrister Earl Gray said.
“They didn’t search, they didn’t check. They’ve thumbed their noses at New Zealand and its laws.”
The NRL argued that it would be “next to impossible to rebrand at this point.”
“In this environment, there is a real potential for this club to be set back irreparably,” NRL barrister Clive Elliott said.
“If there is this cloud having over this new team, people are going to say, ‘Why would I move to Port Moresby when it’s under threat’?”
NZR said their position had not changed.
“Two teams called the Chiefs, playing similar codes in the same commercial markets, is likely to cause confusion. NZR remains firmly of the view that the Chiefs name cannot be used in New Zealand without infringing protections that have been in place since 1998,” it said in a statement.
NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster said the organisation would not back down.
“Today’s decision is not a judgment on the strength of our case, and the matter will still be heard in full. As the trademark holder, our responsibility to protect the Chiefs brand hasn’t changed. We remain open to working with the ARLC on a solution,” Lancaster said.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster says “we now have a responsibility to protect the Chiefs brand”. Getty
Chiefs chairman Errol Brain was also quoted.
“Having literally bled for this club as a player and captain, I feel an even greater responsibility today to protect its brand and legacy,” Brain said.
“We owe that to those who have gone before us, and to the players, coaches, staff, and fans who are part of this great club today and those who will become part of it in the years ahead.”
The PNG Chiefs also issued a statement on Friday.
“The PNG Chiefs welcome today’s decision in the New Zealand High Court and look forward to the launch of our inaugural logo and supporter jersey in Port Moresby on Wednesday, October 21,” PNG Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson said.
“As the matter remains before the court, no further comment on this matter will be provided at this time.”
