Samoa on the brink of international rugby ban, local media reports
Samoa faces a potential four-year international rugby ban if it does not resolve a dispute regarding government intervention in the national rugby union, Lakapi Samoa. World Rugby has issued a deadline for the government to accept a review of its decision to withdraw support.
Why it matters
The threat of a ban highlights the tension between government oversight and the autonomy of international sports governing bodies.
Samoa has reportedly been given a Friday deadline to respond to a World Rugby proposal or risk facing an international rugby ban. Photo / Christine Cornege
Samoa is on the brink of being suspended by rugby’s world governing body, local media is reporting.
It comes after the Samoan Government announced on Wednesday it was withdrawing support of Lakapi Samoa because of “unresolved internal issues and division” at the union.
According to the 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”.
“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.
It added the development follows a meeting between Samoa Rugby Union and World Rugby representatives on Thursday.
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