The NSW Supreme Court today refused to grant Tonga an interim injunction allowing them to play NRL stars Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki in their rugby league World Cup match against Ireland tonight.

However Justice Richard White says the pair may be entitled to play in the finals or semi-finals of the tournament, if Tonga reaches that point.

Parramatta forward Moimoi and West Tigers winger Tuiaki have previously played for Tonga but were deemed ineligible by Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) to represent them in the World Cup as they played for New Zealand last year.

The RLIF rules that players can only transfer teams once every two years.

On Friday, their lawyers contended that stopping the players from switching back to Tonga would be an unfair restraint on their employment after they were not required by New Zealand.

Justice White today declined to grant them an interim injunction which would free them to play in Tonga's opening match against Ireland at Parramatta Stadium tonight.

But he said the men may be entitled to play in the finals or semi-finals as those games are due to be played after November 12, which the judge said would be two years after they last played for Tonga.

The matter will return to the same judge tomorrow.

AAP