The Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) has been declared ‘bankrupt’ by the country’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.
Malielegaoi, who is also chair of the SRU, has been taking part in a radio marathon to raise awareness and funds for the team that is set to face both England and Scotland in upcoming Autumn Internationals.
Both home nations could be in a position to help the financially-stricken union by offering them up gate receipts from their respective matches, but that is solely at the discretion of the RFU and the Scottish Rugby Union.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi says Samoa’s rugby union is bankrupt
Samoa have been wrestling with their crippling debt for years, which at its highest reached £305,000 in 2015.
They have since been able to reduce it to £147,000, but current World Rugby rules exacerbate the problems faced by Samoa and other Pacific Islanders, with hosts under no obligation to share any of their revenue with visiting Test sides inside international windows.
It is a problem the governing body are keen to fix, but in the meantime, Samoa are relying on donations and charity from citizens in its own country.
‘They’re begging the public for their financial support in today’s radiothon,’ reporter Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia 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.
Samoa are set to play two Autumn International Tests in the UK, against England and Scotland
‘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.’
Samoa have already asked the RFU for £160,000 from their upcoming clash at Twickenham on November 25.
It is thought the Test will earn the English body up to £10million, but it remains to be seen if any of that will pass into Samoan hands.
Former Samoa and Wasps second row Daniel Leo responded to the declaration from Prime Minister Malielegaoi on Twitter, describing it as a ‘dark day’ for the country.
‘A dark day for the rugby world as PM announces Samoa officially Bankrupt, asking public dig deep and bail them out,’ he wrote, before adding the hashtag #saveSamoa.
Former Wasps and London Irish second row Daniel Leo reacted to the news on Twitter