Lakapi Samoa Appointment of President as Interim Chair is Unconstitutional

2026-03-09 - 09:07

9 March 2026, Apia Samoa. Lakapi Samoa has acknowledged the conclusion of the Chairmanship tenure of Honourable Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, who has served the Union since 1991, and appointed President Namulauulu Papalii Leota Sami Leota as Interim Chair. In a press release over the weekend, the Board of Lakapi Samoa records its sincere appreciation for Hon Tuilaepa’s longstanding contribution and commitment to rugby in Samoa. “Over more than three decades of service to Lakapi Samoa, including his long tenure as Chairman, Tuilaepa has been a steadfast supporter of the game and a prominent figure in the governance of rugby in Samoa,” reads the press release. Tuilaepa took over as Chairman 26 years ago when the late Seiuli Alan Grey retired in 2000. Samoa has not advanced past the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup since 1999. President Appointed Interim Chair In the same press release, the Lapaki Samoa announced that the current President, Namulauulu Papalii Leota Sami Leota, will serve as Interim Chairman following Tuilaepa stepping down. Namulauulu was elected President of Lakapi Samoa after the reforms in 2018. He won by a landslide vote that year against former President and Head Coach, Sua Peter Schuster. Prior to that he had been the Manager of Manu Samoa including the 2015 RWC. The press release states, “Namulauulu Papalii Leota Sami Leota, who will serve as Interim Chairman in accordance with the Constitution of Lakapi Samoa acknowledged Tuilaepa’s service to the Union..” “On behalf of the Board of Lakapi Samoa, we acknowledge and thank Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi for his many years of service to the governance of rugby in Samoa and his support for the growth of the game in our country,” stated Namulauulu in the press release. “We remain committed to the work of strengthening rugby in Samoa while continuing to ensure the stability and good governance of the Union moving forward,” adds Namulauulu. President of Lakapi Samoa, Namulauulu Papalii Leota Sami Leota. An ex-officio member of the Board, will be the Interim Chair. What the Lakapi Samoa Constitution Says: In 2018 and with the support of World Rugby (IRB), Samoa Rugby underwent significant reforms and adopted a new constitution aimed at enhancing good governance, transparency and accountability. The Constitution states that the President along with the CEO, are ex-officio members of the Board. “The President and CEO shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Board and speak thereat, but shall have no vote.” The Constitution also states that there should be a Vice Chair who should step up if the Chair is not available. The Vice Chair shall be the Chair of the Board, and represent the Board in the absence of the Chair.” Can the President be Vice Chair? Not according to the Lakapi Samoa Constitution. The Constitution states that “The Board members shall appoint a Vice Chair from the elected and appointed Board members.” The 3 “appointed” members have to be individuals with (i) a Finance, (ii) a Legal and (iii) a Commercial background. The Lapaki Samoa Board has 4 “elected” members. They are elected at AGMs by member unions when a position becomes vacant on a rotational basis. The four elected Board members are two from Upolu unions, one member from Savaii and one member representing Women. The President/Chairman of Lapaki Samoa, Namulauulu Sami Leota was contacted for a comment. He said the Press Release is the correct information. Women in the Board The Lakapi Samoa Constitution also requires the presence of at least 3 women on the Lakapi Samoa Board. Since the reforms of 2018, that Constitutional requirement has never been fulfilled. There have been only two women on the Board from time to time.