‘We have always supported our athletes’ – Samoan government on Rakapi Samoa’s financial fiasco

Sports Minister Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell said on Tuesday that the union had only submitted its request for 1.5 million Saudi riyals in April, at the end of the 2023-2024 financial year.
photo: World Rugby

Samoa’s Ministry of Sports has refuted claims by Rakapi Samoa Club president and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi that the government has failed to fund the national men’s 15-year-old team’s European tour in November.

Last week, Tui’laepa Sa’ilele Malielegoi Criticism of the current government For not backing Manu Samoa for the major events on the rugby calendar.

His comments sparked widespread concern both at home and abroad, with many questioning the government’s commitment to the country’s top sports team.

However, the Sports Ministry denied Tuilaepa’s comments, saying the tour’s official funding application had not been submitted on time.

Sports Minister Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell said on Tuesday that the union’s request for SAR1.5 million was only made in April, at the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, when the budget had already been allocated to other priorities.

“We have always supported our athletes, but the timing of Rakapi Samoa’s request has prevented us from providing additional funding,” Purcell said.

“At that point, we had earmarked the rest of the budget for the Pacific Games and the Olympics in France.”

In accepting TV1 SamoaTuilaepa said Rakapi Samoa would raise funds for the centenary celebrations and planned a European tour.

Previously, the Samoan government had allocated 600,000 Saudi dollars to support Samoa’s participation in the Rugby World Cup in October and the Pacific Games hosted by the Solomon Islands in November last year.

Purcell said that with those commitments already in place, it was not feasible to approve additional requests so late in the fiscal year.

He said the government was committed to supporting Samoan athletes and urged Rakapi Samoa to get involved early and coordinate matters better.

World Rugby declined to comment.

However, the regulatory agencies Previously stated that the financial situation Rakapi Samoa’s situation is a “direct consequence of its own decisions”.