World Rugby says it's fully committed to assisting the Samoa Rugby Union with its current financial, administrative and governance challenges.
Manu Samoa sing the anthem before their test against Scotland at the weekend. Photo: AFP
Earlier this month the Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also the Samoa Rugby Union chairman said the union was bankrupt and unable to pay players' wages or pay off their debts.
World Rugby says the union is not bankrupt and that recent statements made by the chairman of the SRU questioning World Rugby's funding package are inaccurate.
In a statement World Rugby said while the SRU's failure to implement some jointly agreed high-performance initiatives in 2017 is a concern to World Rugby, it has resulted in a small amount of conditional investment being withheld.
World Rugby's support of all tier two unions is both financial and administrative and is delivered on a partnership basis with each union.
World Rugby continues to support the SRU's national men's 15s and sevens high-performance programmes with a record 3 million dollars in overall investment in 2017, specifically including:
Directly funding all insurance costs for the national 15s players while on international duty to maintain the highest standards of player welfare
Funding a training camp in London to provide valuable preparation ahead of the November tests
Funding the travel costs of Samoa players and other countries
Funding any flights between test matches and all on-the ground expenses when playing against another tier two country or participating in World Rugby-organised tournaments.
SRU Chief Executive Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai and Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Photo: Supplied/Savali
World Rugby can clarify that the union is not bankrupt and would also like to clarify the inaccurate statements made by the SRU Chairman relating to the selection of the national men's 15s team coach.
World Rugby did not interfere with the recruitment and selection process. A clear and transparent process was agreed by all parties. However, the union did not wish to accept the recommendation of the independently chaired selection panel, which included SRU representatives. The SRU board decided to make its own appointment. Therefore, World Rugby withdrew the funding allocated to this position but continues to honour its funding commitments for 2017 in line with the high-performance funding agreement.
World Rugby's support extends further than just financial commitments. It is working in partnership with Pacific Rugby Players (the official IRPA-affiliated body representing Pacific Island players) to implement personal development, player welfare and other important initiatives to support Pacific Island players all over the world. World Rugby remains committed to supporting all Pacific Island unions in achieving their potential on and off the field and applauds the excellent progress made by the Fiji Rugby Union since implementing key governance and administrative reforms which are delivering significant positive results for the union.
-World Rugby