The Tonga National Rugby League have just one week to appeal a decision which would see them expelled by the International Rugby League.

A dispute erupted last year between the Tongan players and the federation, which has not been resolved.

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In October, the TNRL sacked Kristian Woolf, appointing Frank Endacott and Garth Brennan as coaches amid fallout of finances and resources.

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That saw the likes of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita threaten to boycott the World Cup Nines and the end-of-season Tests.

Such a situation was avoided, with the players turning out for a ‘Invitational XIII’ side for historic Test wins over Great Britain and Australia.

The IRL released a statement on Monday, notifying Tonga of their decision to kick them out.

It read: “At its board meeting on 13 February, the directors carefully considered the position of Tonga National Rugby League, which has been suspended since October 2019, in the light of a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders in the Tongan game.

Tonga celebrate beating Australia Source: Getty Images

“After that meeting, the board wrote to TNRL, advising them of the resolution passed at that meeting, which is to expel TNRL from the membership.

“There is a process within the IRL constitution for dealing with membership issues, which IRL is following. TNRL has one week to appeal the board’s decision.”

Should it choose to do so, the matter will be decided by the members in general meeting.

A potential expulsion raises huge question marks over the future of Tonga as a Test force, following their emergence as an international power at the 2017 World Cup.

The TNRL has one week to appeal the decision.

If they choose to, the issue will be adjudicated on by IRL members.

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