Disqualified rugby team is reinstated

A team in the Auckland Samoan rugby competition, disqualified for fielding Tongan players, has been reinstated.

The Auckland Samoan Rugby Union appeals committee ruled that the Apolima club had not breached the rules of the Samoan union (ASRFU) when it fielded what the union labelled "Tongan players".

The decision comes after a long argument between Apolima and the union over players' ancestry, which went to the High Court.

The trouble began in August when Apolima fielded what the union claimed were Tongan players. Apolima said they all had Samoan ancestry, but did not provide documents proving it.

The union went to the High Court for an injunction preventing Apolima from playing. But Justice Rhys Harrison dismissed its application, saying the union did not need a court order to stop the team.

The union then presented the club with an order preventing its team from playing. Apolima appealed to the Auckland Rugby Union technical committee, which found Apolima was not in breach of the rules, and that they could be reinstated after providing documents, such as passports, to the ASRFU.

The ASRFU then appealed to the ARU appeals committee, which said it was not necessary for Apolima to provide the documents. It said the ASRFU rules should be clearer.