The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL), the trademark owners of the Mate Ma’a Tonga (MMT) brand, has clarified it is not acting as a barrier to the country’s much-loved men’s national rugby team from using the name.
It comes after the Tonga Rugby League 13 (TRL 13) said that Tonga would not be using the MMT name at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup due to differences between the TNRL and the International Rugby League-recognised national federation in the kingdom.
In a statement to RNZ Pacific on Thursday, the TNRL board of directors said claims by the TRL 13 chairman and Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua that it was demanding royalties for the use of MMT name were “misleading”.
“TNRL has never intended to charge the national team or its players simply for competing under the Mate Ma’a Tonga name or displaying the name and logo as part of the team’s sporting identity,” the TNRL statement read.
The TNRL said that its correspondence to the prime minister only referred to a “modest form of compensation”.
“This was intended to relate to the commercial production and sale of merchandise bearing the Mate Ma’a Tonga name and logo, not to the national team’s use of the name on the field.”
Lord Fakafanua told RNZ Pacific that although the TNRL had offered the use of the MMT name, the demand for royalty payments was not workable as the name belonged to the rugby league team.
The prime minister questioned why the government, players or the legally-recognised national federation needed to pay royalties to TNRL for a “national treasure that was bestowed to the national team by the King?”
However, the TNRL board of directors said they had emailed Lord Fakafanua and TRL 13 secretary in early July this year offering support for the national team returning to the MMT name and “proposed a meeting to discuss a positive way forward”.
“That correspondence made no request for royalties, licensing fees or financial payments,” the statement said.
“It is therefore misleading to suggest that TNRL was demanding payment from the government or players simply for the national team to continue using its traditional name.”
According to the TNRL, it had received confirmation from the IRL that Tonga could use the MMT brand.
But Lord Fakafanua said the IRL could not decide the use of the MMT brand as that was registered by the TNRL.
The statement said the TNRL was not holding the country to ransom, as was being suggested by Lord Fakafanua.
“TNRL’s intention has never been to prevent Tonga’s national team from using the name by which it has been known for four decades.”
The TNRL also clarified its legal status, stating it was registered as an incorporated organisation in Tonga rather than an entity belongning to three individuals.
“Although TNRL is no longer the internationally recognised national federation, it remains an incorporated organisation and continues to operate domestic rugby league competitions and support grassroots development in Tonga
“Its registered trademark rights are separate from the question of international federation recognition,” the statement said.
The TNRL added that its objective has been to protect an asset belonging to the organisation while supporting a practical arrangement that recognises the history of Mate Ma’a Tonga and benefits Tongan rugby league.
