Rugby League Samoa (R.L.S.) has cautioned businesses and individuals of the illegal monetising of the Toa Samoa brand ahead of the team's matches in October against Australia and New Zealand.

R.L.S. President Fiu Faaolatane Ponifasio Vasa made the call during a press conference on Saturday when his executive announced the schedule and preparations for Toa Samoa's games, the National Rugby League (N.R.L.) Islands of Origins and the Pacific Championship.

"The support by the country will certainly have no boundaries and a lot of cars already have stickers and photos of the Toa Samoa printed and painted on it and flags in front of people's houses," he said. "But once you have the intention to earn at the cost of Toa Samoa and rugby league's image then we remind you.

"We do have an organisation that has been legally registered which is the Rugby League Samoa to be informed about these things. We are just executives and there is a legal channel to go through."

According to the President, their executive is aware there are individuals who have illegally created merchandise of the Toa Samoa brand, but he said the R.L.S. has no intention of taking legal action against anyone.

"We don't mean to prevent our people from accessing anything but it's to make sure everything is done the right and legal way as we mentioned before, the support will not be limited, like Savai'i where flags are installed in front of families' houses and so forth.

"The Toa Samoa and the rugby league were first developed with nothing and now we have opportunities for players, the opportunity to promote the sport, put Samoa on the map, as well as collecting more funds for the development of rugby league.

"We don't want to use the law against anyone but it's just a reminder that there is a proper channel and Rugby League Samoa has been registered specially for these things."

During Toa Samoa's preparations last year, leading up to the World Cup final and to the squad's homecoming in December, the R.L.S warned businesses and individuals against illegally monetising their brand as failure will result in legal proceedings.

The public notice issued by a local law firm on behalf of R.L.S. surfaced days ahead of the Toa Samoa homecoming, with many businesses using the opportunity to maximise their sales. 

The use of Toa Samoa-branded merchandise triggered concern for the R.L.S. which sought legal advice to ensure its intellectual property rights that are registered are protected. 

A public notice dated 17 November 2022 issued under the Aumua Law Firm business address advised the public against using the R.L.S. logo and the Toa Samoa name without permission. This also included the use of Toa Samoa phrases (Uso Aso Uma, O ai le Toa etc.) mamanu designs and the Toa Samoa Siva Tau and any part of the Siva Tau. 

The Aumua Law Firm said at that time that it had been instructed to take legal action against businesses and individuals who are infringing on the intellectual property rights of the R.L.S.

Should any business or individual wish to use, print, or distribute material or merchandise with the use of the logo and other phrases written approval should be obtained from the R.L.S. The business or individual must pay 20 per cent of their gross sales to the national league or a lump sum should be agreed upon. Any approval granted is subject to the terms and conditions set by the R.L.S. at the time the approval is granted. 

The R.L.S executive committee during the media conference on Saturday also promoted the confirmed schedules for the different domestic and international tournaments.

The Islands of Origin has started this week while the Toa Samoa will play Australia and New Zealand in October. For the Pacific Championship, the International Rugby League (IRL) was urged by the executive committee to include the championship in their calendar according to the president.

The Pacific Championship is divided into two divisions, the Pacific Cup where New Zealand and Australia are to join Samoa, and the Pacific Bowl which Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands will participate in. Both divisions will be held at the same time with the inclusion of the women's division known as the Fetu Samoa.

2023 Pacific Championships Schedule

Week One – October 14-15

Australia v Samoa (men) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

PNG v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Two – October 21-22

New Zealand v Samoa (men) at Eden Park, Auckland

New Zealand v Tonga (women) at Eden Park, Auckland

Fiji v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Three – October 28-29

Australia v New Zealand (men) at AAMI Park, Melbourne

Australia v New Zealand (women) at AAMI Park, Melbourne

PNG v Fiji (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Four – November 4-5

The Final of the men’s Pacific Cup tournament on November 4 in Hamilton, New Zealand

The Final of the men’s Pacific Bowl tournament on November 5 at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby