By Staff Reporters/
Apia, Samoa – 08 August 2024 – In the year when Samoan rugby is supposed to celebrate 100 years of the game that has become the national sport, the rugby union, Lakapi Samoa slides into serious financial problems.
So serious that the world governing body for rugby is in active dialogue with Lakapi Samoa to find a solution to the union’s financial troubles which threatens the sport’s future development in the country.
Last month, Lakapi Samoa board chair and former Prime Minister Tu’ilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, wrote to World Rugby informing it that the Manu Samoa team will not be able to go ahead with the Northern Hemisphere tour in November due to “significant financial challenges” and to avoid going “bankrupt”.
The letter 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,” Tuilaepa wrote 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, Lakapi Samoa 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 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,” the spokesman added.
Samoa Rugby’s financial problems not new
But Samoa rugby’s financial problems are nothing new and some had been highly publicized with high profile players criticising the union’s administration for handling finances relating to the payment of players and what they were due.
With the national team Manu Samoa’s sliding performances in the past three world cups, the highly public criticisms levelled at the unions administration had impacted on public as well as sponsorship support and may take time for rugby to recover.
In a recent media interview, well respected former rugby coach and Development Officer, Uaea Laki Apelu observed that the Union had neglected the Manu Samoa fan base for some time and has affected the public and sponsors’ support in growing the game going forward.
Recent public fundraisers for Samoan rugby especially leading up to the World Cups, had not had the same level of public support they used to command and enjoy.
