Tonga Rugby League

A decision to expel the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) from the International Rugby League, IRL, was confirmed in March, although TNRL is planning a last-ditch appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

The former governing body had been suspended since September after it sacked Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances, leading players to threaten a boycott of international matches.

A decision to expel the TNRL from the International Rugby League, IRL, was confirmed by a membership vote this month.

The situation comes after a long-standing and high profile battle over governance which has involved star players as well.

TNRL Secretary William Edwards said despite the negative outcome there was a sense of relief knowing their case would be heard in the Court of Arbitration after exhausting every avenue underneath the IRL.

The IRL confirmed the TNRL had been kicked out of the world body after a special general meeting last week backed an earlier board decision by nine votes to five.

Only full members of the world governing body could vote.

RNZ Pacific understands Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands voted against the move to expel the TNRL.

The IRL only needed 25 percent of the vote to support the board's resolution.

The Auckland-born forward will join his home-town club from England, where he is in the final season of his three-year Super League deal with the Warrington Wolves.

"Ben is right up among the best forwards in the game right now and he had plenty of clubs trying to sign him," said Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan.

"It's a huge signing for us, one we couldn't be happier with. Ben always had enormous potential and has now matured into a total professional. He'll be a real asset to have back in the NRL."

Already considered the NRL's premier forward, Taumalolo will assume a more senior role in a younger Cowboys' forward pack when they kick off their season against Brisbane next Friday.

Now into year three of his decade-long deal in Townsville, Taumalolo's steam- rolling style has left every other club searching for a clone.

But if there was one fear when he signed his landmark $10 million contract it was that motivation could become an issue for the star back-rower.

The Board of International Rugby League has announced the updated rules, which come into effect immediately, following a review and consultation with member nations.

Under the new regulations a player is eligible to represent any nation they, their parents, or grandparents were born in, or if they have resided in the country over a five-year period.

However, changes introduced before the 2017 World Cup that were hailed as game-changing and inspired the rise of Mate Ma'a Tonga have been tightened.

International Rugby League (IRL) will meet on March 18 to hear the administration's appeal, after the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) opted to fight their expulsion earlier this week.

It comes after months of fighting between Tongan players and the administration over finances and the initial axing of Kristian Woolf as coach.

The drama threatened to put a large dent in international rugby league last year, with Tonga players on the threat of boycotting the Nines World Cup and other matches.

Tonga shook the league world to its foundations in 2017 when Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita led a host of top NRL stars who switched allegiance to the island nation from New Zealand and Australia respectively.

They beat the Kiwis in the quarterfinal, before knocking off both Great Britain and the Kangaroos last year.

The argument always goes that the there’s little money to be made from Test football, but Moore says one comes after the other. With regular Tests, there are regular income sources.

Truth be told - the action by the International Rugby League has been a long time coming.

The rise of Mate Ma'a Tonga, an international powerhouse

Tonga reached new heights during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup when they defeated New Zealand for the first time on the way to a semi-final berth, eventually losing in dramatic fashion to England 20-18 in front of a packed Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The campaign saw hordes of Tongan fans filling stadiums across New Zealand and Australia, boosting the profile of both the World Cup and the sport as a whole.

The International Rugby League (IRL) expulsion is the latest move in a long-running battle over governance and money.

The TNRL had been suspended since October, after it sacked coach Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances, which led players to threaten a boycott.

The IRL recommended a package of reforms in December at the end of a two-month investigation into the operation and governance of the game in the country.

Thirty days of consultation ended and the IRL confirmed the expulsion on Monday night.