BBC Rugby Union: Samoa Withdraw from November Internationals Due to Financial Woes

According to a report by RNZ Pacific, the Samoa national rugby union team has withdrawn from their planned tour to the Northern Hemisphere this November due to ongoing financial difficulties.

The development comes as a major blow for the Pacific Islanders, who had been showing promising form during the recent World Cup and mid-year international fixtures. In a letter to World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, Samoa Rugby Union board chair Tu’ilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi cited the “lack of sponsorships in small economies” as the key challenge stifling their efforts to grow and sustain the sport.

Malielegaoi expressed Samoa’s continued commitment to rugby and desire to compete at the highest level, but stated that the “financial realities” necessitated a more cautious approach to international engagements to ensure the long-term stability of Lakapi Samoa. The letter called for “strategic interventions and support from World Rugby” to assist the union in addressing its financial woes.

This is not the first time Samoa has sought help from the global governing body. In 2017, the union declared bankruptcy on the eve of a match against Scotland, prompting World Rugby to provide £1.5 million in aid. England also offered a “goodwill payment” to the Samoan Rugby Union following their fixture that year.

Rugby union holds a prominent position as the national sport of Samoa, with the national team currently ranked 13th in the world. The latest withdrawal from the November internationals is yet another setback for the Pacific Island nation as they navigate the complexities of maintaining a sustainable high-performance program.

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