Samoa PM urges public to bail out union

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has asked his country's citizens to help bail out their "bankrupt" rugby union.

Tuilaepa also serves as the chairman of the Samoan Rugby Union (SRU), and claims that the union could not afford to pay off debts with banks. He also said the SRU are in desperate need of funds to pay players in the Manu Samoa Sevens and fifteen-a-side squads.

The Union held a fundraising radiothon on Wednesday they are hoping will assist with addressing their dire financial situation.

RadioNZ's correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, said the Prime Minister admitted the SRU are in a perilous position.

"They're begging the public for their financial support in today's radiothon," he told RadioNZ.

"They did not say how much money they're looking to collect but they need hundreds of thousands of Tala.

"The Rugby Union is broke so he (the Prime Minister) doesn't know how to put the situation financially of the Rugby Union.

"The Union is broke and it's better for the SRU to get up and do something and to make people look at the SRU leading and trying to generate some funds through this radiothon to help the rugby development in the country."

Tuilapea also said the SRU had experienced financial problems in the past and that is why the government is attempting to help ease the financial burden.