Samoan PM urges public to help ailing union

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has asked his country's citizens to help bail out their ''bankrupt'' rugby union.

Tuilaepa also holds the position of chairman of the Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) and claims the union could not afford to pay off debts with banks. He also said finances are in short supply to pay players in the Manu Samoa sevens and fifteen-a-side squads.

The SRU held a fundraising event on Wednesday hoping to raise the much needed funds to address their worrying financial situation.

“They’re begging the public for their financial support in today’s radiothon,” he told RadioNZ.

“They did not say how much money they’re looking to collect but they need hundreds of thousands of Tala.”

“The Rugby Union is broke so he (the Prime Minister) doesn’t know how to put the situation financially of the Rugby Union.

“The Union is broke and it’s better for the SRU to get up and do something and to make people look at the SRU leading and trying to generate some funds through this radiothon to help the rugby development in the country.”

Samoa are currently on their End of Year Tour to the Northern Hemisphere where they are due to play Scotland, Romania before a mammoth clash against England at Twickenham.