New Zealand Rugby has gone to court to stop the NRL's new Papua New Guinea club from taking the name Chiefs. The governing body filed for both interim and final injunctions, moving ahead of the franchise's official launch later this month. The Waikato-based Chiefs have carried the name in Super Rugby for close to three decades, and it anchors a brand with national reach. Another code using the same moniker across overlapping broadcast markets would blur that identity and muddy merchandising rights. Disputes of this kind usually come down to registered trademarks and how much confusion fans would genuinely face. NZ Rugby argues the league side's entry would confuse supporters and dilute a name it has invested years in building. A court order could force the Papua New Guinea franchise to rebrand before it plays a single game.