christian woolf

Earlier this year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal by the former governing body, Tonga National Rugby League, over its expulsion from the International Rugby League.

An Interim Management Group was installed in June to manage rugby league affairs in Tonga until March, which is Chaired by the Tonga Prime Minister, Dr Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, and includes representatives from the Tonga Government and Asia Pacific Rugby League.

The side is playing under the banner of "Invitational XIII" against Great Britain this weekend and against Australia on 2 November.

The situation arose after a Supreme Court ruled the Tonga National Rugby League was the only authority able to operate the official national representative side, Mate Ma'a Tonga, following a long-running dispute between coach Kristian Woolf and the TNRL.

Despite this ruling, the TNRL remains suspended by the International Rugby League governing body pending their own investigations into the matter.