Samoa face World Rugby ban over prime minister's 'political madness', opposition warns
World Rugby has given the Samoan government until Friday to accept a review of its decision to withdraw recognition and financial support of the rugby union.
Samoa's opposition leader has warned that the nation could face a World Rugby suspension due to what he calls a politically motivated move by the government. The opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, spoke to RNZ Pacific after the government announced it was cutting its support for the national rugby union, Lakapi Samoa, citing "unresolved internal issues and division."
However, Tuilaepa, a former Samoan Prime Minister and leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, maintains that the decision is a "dirty political move" by the prime minister. World Rugby has given the Samoan government until Friday to accept a review of their decision to withdraw recognition and financial support for the rugby union.
If they fail to do so, Samoa could be suspended from international rugby for four years. The Samoa Rugby Union, which does not receive any financial assistance from the government, has not yet responded to these allegations.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
