No immediate changes to Samoa's international schedule amid ongoing dispute - World Rugby
There will be no changes to Samoa's current international rugby schedule as discussions on the future management of the game in Samoa continues.
World Rugby has announced that there will be no immediate changes to Samoa's international rugby schedule as discussions on the future management of the sport in Samoa continue. The national women's team, Manusima, and the national team, Manu Samoa, will maintain their regular international fixtures. A World Rugby spokesperson stated that they will not comment on the specifics of the ongoing discussions, but remain committed to reaching a positive outcome for all parties involved.
There is no impact on Lakapi Samoa's high-performance programs, as they prepare for the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong from September 13-26. The team will face Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, and Spain in the tournament. However, there are concerns about potential sanctions from World Rugby if the Samoan government does not accept a proposed review of Lakapi Samoa.
The government's withdrawal of recognition and financial support for the national rugby union on July 30 has led to tensions between the government and Lakapi Samoa. World Rugby is awaiting the government's formal acceptance of the review, with the initial plan set for November 2026, but is now proposing to extend the process until December 2026.
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