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Apia, Samoa – August 8, 2024 – Samoa Rugby Union has become the national sport and this year marks the 100th anniversary of rugby, yet Rakapi Samoa is in dire financial straits.
The situation is so serious that world rugby’s governing body is in active dialogue with Rakapi Samoa to find a solution to the union’s financial woes, which threaten the future of rugby in the country.
Last month, Rakapi Samoa board chair and former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi wrote to World Rugby to inform it that Manu Samoa would not be able to proceed with its northern hemisphere tour in November due to “significant financial challenges” and the need to avoid “bankruptcy”.
The letter cited “lack of sponsorship” as the union’s “greatest challenge” in growing and maintaining the sport.
“We propose exploring targeted initiatives to bring about real, lasting change for a country the size of Samoa,” Tuilaepa said in a letter to World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
However, a World Rugby spokesman said the financial difficulties were “a direct consequence of the decisions made by the federation”.
The spokesperson said Samoa, and the wider Pacific Islands, played an important role in the history of world rugby and World Rugby was in active dialogue with the federation and its stakeholders to identify possible solutions to ongoing financial challenges and develop a long-term stabilisation strategy.
“It is important to note that World Rugby invests significantly each year in Rakapi Samoa’s high performance and development programmes and the current financial challenges are a direct consequence of decisions made by the league.”
The spokesperson said collaboration from all stakeholders was necessary to find long-term solutions rather than short-term mitigation measures.
“As a result, Rakapi Samoa made the decision earlier this year to withdraw from the November Test schedule. This decision was supported by World Rugby as World Rugby will be funding Samoa’s participation in the new Pacific Nations Cup, a key competition in the new international calendar that is directly linked to future Rugby World Cup and Nations Cup Tier 2 qualifiers.
“In addition to this, we have also made significant investments in the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby League franchise and Samoa WXV and age grade competition participation,” the spokesperson added.
Samoa rugby’s financial problems are not new
But Samoa rugby’s financial problems are nothing new and some of them have received widespread publicity with prominent players criticising the league’s management for its handling of financial issues relating to player salaries and dues.
Rugby may take some time to recover as public and sponsor support has been affected by public criticism of the union’s management following the decline in performances of national team Manu Samoa at the past three World Cups.
In a recent media interview, the well-respected former rugby coach and development officer, Uaea Laki Apelu, said the league had neglected the Manu Samoa fan base for some time, affecting public and sponsor support for the future growth of the sport.
Recent public fundraising campaigns for Samoan rugby, especially in the run-up to the World Cup, have not generated the same public support as in the past.
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