Pacific

Sport: Manu Samoa players urge SRU to engage in talks

14:12 pm on 18 November 2014

Members of the Manu Samoa rugby team are urging the Samoa Rugby Union to engage in talks over their concerns for the national set-up.

A group of senior players met with the IRB and the International Rugby Players Association over the weekend but the SRU chose not to be represented at the talks.

Last month, the players raised concerns regarding the governance and management of the Samoan Rugby Union and threatend to boycott this weekend's test against England if their concerns were not heard.

That proposed action was withdrawn but IRPA Executive Director Rob Nichol says the SRU should take up the opportunity and come to the table willing to engage meaningfully on the issues.

He says that would be a good first step in resolving this situation and without meaningful communication things will not improve.

Manu Samoa lock Daniel Leo says the players have had to endure these ongoing issues for too long and believe taking this approach was the only way their concerns would be taken seriously.

The Samoan International players say they are committed to working positively with administrators and are now simply asking the SRU to take the same approach.