Samoa rugby union

The Samoa Rugby Union has been declared bankrupt ahead of their November internationals against Scotland and England, with the union unable to pay players wages or pay off their debts.

Palmerston North born and raised Leo, who played professionally in England for a decade, now runs an organisation called Pacific Rugby Player Welfare, who look after the interests of Pacifika players.

The news comes a day after the Samoan Union held a radiothon in an attempt to raise some much needed funds.

Samoa prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also chairman of the SRU, told reporters this week that the governing body was "insolvent", with the union unable to "pay off our debts with the banks" or fund player wages.

RNZi reports World Rugby was not giving the SRU any funds towards their Northern Hemisphere tour, which is linked to the governing body's concerns about on-going funding issues and the SRU administration.

Tuilaepa, who is also the chair of the SRU, said the Union could not afford to pay off debts with banks and also need funds to pay players in the Manu Samoa sevens and fifteens sqauds.

The Union is holding a fundraising radiothon today in an attempt to address the union's dire financial situation.

RNZ's correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, said the Prime Minister admitted the Union was in a perilous position.

"They're begging the public for their financial support in today's radiothon," he said of the SRU.

CEO Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai told the Daily Mail newspaper that the national team's future is under serious threat from mounting debts, and that they are close to insolvency.

He said without desperate support from the Samoan Government the SRU would not survive - a point referenced by the Prime Minister and SRU Chair Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in the Union's 2016 Annual Report.

Ethan Lolesio's family wrote an open letter to Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union.

The Australian-based player was part of the squad that competed in the Oceania Championship in Australia but after returning to Samoa the coach, Junior Leota, was replaced by Mahonri Schwalger and Lolesio was dropped from the team to compete at the Under 20 World Cup in Georgia.

Schwalger said the allegations against the SRU would never have been made if the player had been selected.

RNZ reports defense counsel Semi Leung Wai confirmed to the court last week that they have been served with the claim motion, and asked for an adjournment.

Also included in the lawsuit is the SRU Chief Executive Officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai.

McGrath claims wrongful dismissal and that SRU had defamed him.

His service was terminated after the Sevens team failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics and still had over a year of his contract to run.

General Manager of Rugby Brian Hopley says it will assist with the referees’ decisions and improve the game.

The efforts by SRU are spearheaded by their Match Officials pathway coordinator, Anae Tui Komiti and National Analyst, Hari Junior Narayan whose goal is to make the dream a reality.

“This is a tool that will be available for coaches for post-game analysis. It will help with the review of players performances for entry into the High Performance Unit, Samoa A, Under 20’s, Manu Sevens, Samoa 10’s and possibly Manu Samoa,” said Mr. Hopley.

SRU Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai says this has been the union’s plan for the last 12 months.

 “We’re looking at a way to re-spark how we can manage rugby in Samoa, basically to put more local talent under the microscope,” he says.

“As you all know, our Manu Samoa consists of a lot of talent brought in from overseas and most of our athletes are from overseas. However, we’re looking at the future where there are more local players than those from other countries,” he said.

Suisala Mele Mauaivao of UN Women in Apia, who is spearheading the initiative, met with Manu Samoa captain David Lemi to solidify the partnership.

"I think it is so important that SRU is now playing a role in promoting an end to violence against women, because to have a team of this capacity where our people look up to it’s good to know that they are setting an example for this push," she said.

"We're looking at the first few matches which will be our Manu Samoa and Georgia here, and then to Fiji in June, and not only that also the sevens qualifier in Monaco," said Faleomavaega Patrick Fepuleai.

He made the comments during a presentation of financial assistance to the union from Bank of South Pacific.

BSP handed over more than $14,700 tala in assistance from the profits of a long time initiative to SRU.

"The offer today from BSP is the fruit of a special initiative in our partnership with them," said SRU CEO Faleomavaega.