World Rugby chief travels to Apia to resolve Samoa rugby rift

The head of World Rugby will meet Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa (La'auli) Leuatea Schmidt in Apia to try and resolve the ongoing governance issue in Samoan rugby.

La'auli told parliament on Tuesday that he was set to meet World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson.

World Rugby confirmed to RNZ Pacific on Thursday that the meeting is set to take place this week.

A spokesperson said they are hoping to resolve the split that has led to two rugby unions claiming the right to manage the game in Samoa.

"We are meeting with the government," World Rugby said. "We remain focused on working towards a positive resolution for rugby in Samoa."

La'auli followed through with his threat to establish a rival union to Lakapi Samoa in August, with the launch of the Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU).

The prime minister had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Lakapi Samoa for months, alleging that the Lakapi Samoa had mismanaged finances and that it had affected the growth of the game in the country.

La'auli had called for the resignation of then-Lakapi Samoa board chairman and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who had served in the position for 26 years.

Tuilaepa resigned from the position in March this year, replaced by Afioga Namulauulu Papali'i Leota Sami Leota, who is the current Samoa representative on the World Rugby Council.

The situation escalated further when the Samoan government announced in July that it hadwithdrawn support for the national rugby union.

The new union SRFU was registered by former Manu Samoa players, including George Latu, who is its current chairman.

La'auli and his government have since announced that they were backing the new union, which has thrown the management of the sport into disarray in Apia.

World Rugby has had discussions with both unions and the government over the past three months, in an attempt to find a solution.

Lakapi Samoa chief executive Seumanu Douglas Ngau-Chun said last month their discussions with World Rugby touched on an independent review being done, with the proposal sent to government.

He said World Rugby was going to await government's response before a decision on what would be done was made.

The latest development appears to be a positive step toward a solution, with World Rugby confident that the best way forward for Samoa rugby will be confirmed.

World Rugby also confirmed that there would not be any effect on Samoa's international commitments, after concerns were raised about Manu Samoa missing out the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The team is currently preparing for the World Rugby Nations Cup in November.

The country's sevens rugby teams are also scheduled to play in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger series, fighting for spots in the main HSBC Sevens World Series.