Pacific

Samoa hoping for China funds for Apia Park renovation

07:47 am on 13 October 2014

Samoa is hoping China will help pay for renovations to its national stadium, Apia Park.

Apia Park Photo: Samoa Travel

The ground is now closed for public use and is under renovation ahead of next years historic All Blacks rugby game.

The July 2015 test is slated to be the biggest match Samoa has every hosted is expected to attract thousands of visitors.

Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagvaia says the Prime Minister and Chairman of Samoa Rugby Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao has asked for funding from China to help alleviate the renovation costs.

Shanghai Construction Group is the company working on the site.

Autagavaia says the work will change the layout of the ground.

"According to the Prime Minister the main stadium, the sports field and the main stadium needs to be expanded because of the size of the sports field we have now, the stadium is very close to the field so it needs to be pushed back so the main sports field has a lot of space."

Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagvaia.