MMT Tonga

Strong Tongan Invitational side named instead of MMT

Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita, Daniel Tupou, Tevita Pangai Junior and Siosiua Taukeiaho will all turn out for the Kristian Woolf-coached side.

The team will play under the banner of "Invitational XIII" after a Supreme Court ruling declared the Tonga National Rugby League was the only authority able to operate and control the official national representative side.

The ruling came after the Rugby League International Federation suspended the TNRL after threats of a player boycott in support of Woolf, who had been sacked over disagreements around control and finances.

Sacked MMT coach told players to sign boycott statements

There's been public outcry over the past several weeks amid ongoing issues in Tonga's National Rugby League which began in early September with Kristian Woolf's dismissal and last week resulted in the Rugby League International Federation suspending Tonga's membership as it investigates the developing saga.

Tonga's board claims the Rugby League International Federation 'hung them out to dry' and have launched legal action against the suspension.