World Rugby threatens to suspend Rugby World Cup regulars – report
Samoa players in action during Rugby World Cup 2023 in France and the country's Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt (inset).
Samoa’s governing body is on the verge of being suspended by World Rugby, according to media reports coming from the country.
This follows an announcement from the Samoan government on Wednesday in which it was revealed it was withdrawing support for Rugby Samoa due to “unresolved internal issues and division” at the governing body.
According to a Samoa Observer report, World Rugby have informed the Samoan government that they have until Friday “to accept a proposed review of its decision to withdraw recognition and financial support from Lakapi Samoa.
“Failure to accept the review or respond by the deadline could result in Samoa being suspended from international rugby for four years.”
The government’s decision was made on Wednesday night and comes a day before Rugby Samoa was scheduled to meet a visiting World Rugby delegation.
The country’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt broke the news via a press statement saying that all government funding and other assistance previously provided to Rugby Samoa would be withdrawn.
In March, Schmidt revealed that his government would establish a rival union to govern the game in that country unless Rugby Samoa’s board resigned.
In February, Schmidt expressed his unhappiness with the state of the game in Samoa and said the sport had been “politicised”.
“We’re coming in to clear out all the politicians inside our rugby union,” he said at the time.
“At this stage, our rugby is very impoverished… we are in the level that Samoa had never been before, because of what? Because of management.”
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The government’s latest announcement comes after the official launch of the rival union, Samoa Rugby Football Union, was postponed days before it was set to take place.
Although they are currently struggling and languishing in 20th position in World Rugby’s official rankings, Samoa have developed a rich and proud rugby history over the years.
Apart from missing out on the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, Samoa have been regulars at the global showpiece since then.