The TNRL was founded in 1949 and has been a member of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) since 1974.

In September 2019 membership of the RLIF was suspended after Semisi Sika, acting-prime minister of Tonga, wrote to the RLIF to advise that TNRL had lost the confidence of the government, the Tongan rugby league clubs and the country's players.

[1] In a statement the RLIF stressed that "the suspension of TNRL is not an expulsion and is intended to provide a period of stability, while the matters raised by the various stakeholders can be properly and fully investigated"[2] although a new body Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League has been set up by the Tongan Sports Council and the players which is expected to take over running of the national teams.

[4] In December 2019 an International Rugby League (IRL)[a] report proposed a number of changes to the governance of TNRL which TNR had 30 days to act upon.

[7] As a precedent concerning a Tongan Invitational XIII to play has already been set, it is not considered that the expulsion of TNRL will affect the participation of Tonga's national teams in any competition.