Photo: Victor Montalva/Federacion de Rugby Chile via Photosport via AFP
The governing body for rugby is in active dialogue with Lakapi Samoa to find a solution to financial troubles faced by the union which threatens the sport's future development in the country.
Samoa rugby facing financial challenges
Last month, Samoa Rugby wrote to World Rugby informing it that the Manu Samoa team will not be able to go ahead with the Northern Hemisphere tour due to "significant financial challenges" and to avoid going "bankrupt".
Lakapi Samoa board chair, Tu'ilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegao, cited "the lack of sponsorships" as "the greatest challenge" to the union's efforts to grow and sustain the sport.
"We propose the exploration of targeted initiatives that can make a genuine and lasting difference for a country the size of Samoa.
This could include enhanced financial assistance, and more robust support structures to help us navigate the complexities of international competition," the former Samoa prime minister Tu'ilaepa said in a letter to World Rugby chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont.
However, a World Rugby spokesperson said the financial distress "are a direct consequence of decisions taken by the union".
The spokesperson said Samoa, and the Pacific Islands more broadly, play an important role in the rugby story worldwide and World Rugby is in active dialogue with the union and its stakeholders to determine possible solutions to ongoing financial challenges and foster a strategy of long-term stability.
"It should be noted that World Rugby makes a substantial annual investment in Lakapi Samoa high performance and development programmes, and the current financial challenges are a direct consequence of decisions taken by the union."
The spokesperson said the cooperation of all stakeholders is necessary to identify long-term solutions, rather than short-term mitigations.
"As such, the Lakapi made the decision earlier this year to withdraw from the November test schedule. It was a decision that was supported by World Rugby on the basis that World Rugby's would underwrite Samoa's participation in the new Pacific Nations Cup, an important competition in the new international calendar with direct links to future Rugby World Cup and Nations Cup division two qualification.
"This is in addition to significant ongoing investment in the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise and Samoa's WXV and age grade competition participation," they added.
'Not a win-win situation' - Tonga PM
Since the story was published on Tuesday, Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who is also the Tonga Rugby president, has come out in support of Lakapi Samoa.
"This is the sad reality of the beloved rugby game in the Pacific. There needs to be better way of supporting rugby by World Rugby and sponsors," Hu'akavameiliku wrote in a Facebook post.
"Hard to play well when you don't have the necessary resources. Hard to get the resources when you are not playing well...not a win-win situation!" he added.