Samoan crisis averted... for now
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Intervention by the IRB and a players association has averted the threat of Samoan players taking strike action and refusing to play England next week.
Details emerged on Wednesday of player concerns with the Samoa Rugby Union.
The players believed the best way to make a stand was to threaten the match at Twickenham, but the International Rugby Players' Association released a statement from the IRB.
It appears to have eased the situation for the time being.
In a statement Wednesday, the IRB said: "The Samoan players included an indication that the they would withdraw from the match against England on November 22 if their concerns were not heard.
"Subsequently, the IRB engaged in dialogue with the Samoa Rugby Union and the International Rugby Players' Association to facilitate urgent and collaborative resolution.
"With all parties, including the players, committed to ongoing dialogue, the players have withdrawn their proposed action and the IRB fully expects the union to undertake its obligation to honour its November Test programme commitment in full.
"This response is supported by IRPA and the Samoan players."
The IRB said that on October 27 they had been made aware of concerns raised by the Samoan national squad regarding the administration of the Union.
The Samoan players outlined their concerns about the Union in a letter to the IRB.
They are reported to have cited dissatisfaction with the union's financial management and transparency, along with concern over its general administration and alleged interference in team selection.
Samoa has recently signed major sponsorship aimed at producing a professional build-up to next year's World Cup, however the players seem restless in a situation that has been brewing for some time.
The Rugby Paper revealed that senior Samoan players sent the IRB a letter explaining their grievances.
These included alleged concerns over a lack of financial transparency within the Union, players being expected to pay airfares, coaches being denied a complete rein on selection and their team line-up being announced on social media websites before players are even notified.
"As players, we're unhappy with the incompetence of the Samoan Rugby Union in its current shape and under its current leadership," the letter, leaked to The Rugby Paper, said.
"We would like to notify you that we have called for the resignation of a number of senior officials within the Samoan Rugby Union and will be boycotting our game against England on the 22nd of November should our feelings not be addressed.
"As a unified players group, it is felt that these issues are affecting our success on the field and we can no longer play under such poor leadership."
On Tuesday, the Samoan Rugby Union denied reports that allowances had not been paid to the players on the Northern Hemisphere tour.
The Union’s Treasurer and Board member, Tamaleta Taimang Jensen, told the Samoa Observer that the players’ allowances have been paid.
He assured that the allowances for the game against Canada were also being processed.
“There is no such thing,” Tamaleta said when he was asked about reports that the players had not been paid.
“Everyone is entitled to receive their allowances and we’ve paid the allowances.
Tamaleta said the difficulty is getting money to the touring team because the money has to be processed using different banks with different rules.
The Rugby Paper & Samoa Observer
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