PM: Change the Board, or a New Rugby Union will be Set Up

2026-03-05 - 04:07

5 March 2026, Apia Samoa, By: Leota Marc Membrere. Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt will continue to hold off on signing over the Australian Government’s funding intended for Samoa rugby, as long as the leader of HRPP remains as Chair. “The Government’s position has not changed. We cannot support the release of funds if the governance issues are resolved,” Laaulialemalietoa said in a press conference this week. The stance taken by the Prime Minister is in relation to the proposed Veimoana Partnership, a $150 million funding for rugby in Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji for the next five years. has called out to the Lakapi Samoa management to step down and clear out, otherwise he will never sign for the funding assistance for the development of the sport internally. The Prime Minister has blamed the management and coaches of the Lakapi Samoa for the appalling rugby results reflected from our national teams. Citing that if they fail to clear out, the government together with former rugby players and supporters of Samoa rugby will establish a new rugby union. He also alluded that smaller unions across the country have already approached with concerns over the Lakapi Samoa operations and management. In a meeting with Rugby Australia and a representative from the World Rugby, and later with the Chair of World Rugby, the Prime Minister raised the process for signing over the stalled funds. Asking them, if the government signs, then what is next, what will it do with the funds, where will it go – to the rugby union, yet it sees major governance issues existing there he said. He said that it has been two months since he has officially written to the management of S.R.U. and still there has been no response, indicating they do not want to step down. Regarding talks with representatives of the Rugby Australia and the World Rugby the La’aulialemalietoa said they already have been informed about the situation, and they have resolved to leave this to Samoa to solve. But the meeting between the P.M. and these rugby bodies was for the Veimoana Partnership, a $150 million funding for rugby in Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji for the next five years. The Veimoana Partnership is funding for rugby in the pacific from the Australian Government where $50 million will be given to Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga for five years to develop rugby in the region, boosting rugby and economic development in island nations. The Australian Government, said the Prime Minister has also already been informed that Samoa does not want to miss out on the assistance for the development of national rugby. He has also been advised to speak with the Prime Ministers of Fiji and Tonga to dialogue regarding the funding.