Samoa is on the brink of being suspended by rugby’s world governing body, local media is reporting.<\/p>\n
It comes after the Samoan government announced on Wednesday it was withdrawing support of Lakapi Samoa due to “unresolved internal issues and division” at the union.<\/p>\n
According to Samoa Observer, World Rugby has given the Samoan government until Friday “to accept a proposed review of its decision to withdraw recognition and financial support from Lakapi Samoa”.<\/p>\n
“Failure to accept the review or respond by the deadline could result in Samoa being suspended from international rugby for four years,” the news outlet reported.<\/p>\n
It added the development follows a meeting between Samoa Rugby Union and World Rugby representatives on Thursday.<\/p>\n
RNZ Pacific has contacted World Rugby and Lakapi Samoa for comment.<\/p>\n
Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Schmidt revealed in March<\/a> his government would set up a rival union to govern the sport in the country if the entire Lakapi Samoa board did not resign.<\/p>\n In February, La’auli expressed dissatisfaction at the status of the game in Samoa, saying at the time the sport had been “politicised”.<\/p>\n “We’re coming in to clear out all the politicians inside our rugby union,” he said at the time.<\/p>\n “At this stage, our rugby is very impoverished … we are in the level that Samoa had never been before, because of what? Because of management.”<\/p>\n