Rugby World Cup Nation Faces Disciplinary Action and Possible Immediate Suspension
- World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson travelled to Apia for crisis talks with Samoa's Prime Minister and Lakapi Samoa officials over a deepening governance dispute
- Samoa's Prime Minister withdrew support for Lakapi Samoa three months ago and launched a rival governing body in August, escalating the conflict
- World Rugby confirmed an agreement has been reached, with a series of interim measures introduced to address the situation ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup
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World Rugby has confirmed that Lakapi Samoa has voluntarily removed itself from the World Rugby Council as part of a package of interim measures designed to resolve a deepening governance crisis within Samoan rugby.
World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson travelled to Apia to hold crisis talks with Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa (La'auli) Leuatea Schmidt and met separately with Lakapi Samoa officials amid growing reports of infighting between the Samoan government and the union.
How the Dispute Developed
The Prime Minister withdrew his backing for Lakapi Samoa roughly three months ago, citing disagreements with the union's board and management. He subsequently made good on a threat to establish a rival body, launching the Samoa Rugby Football Union in August — creating a direct split in the administration of the sport in the Pacific nation.
Lakapi Samoa is supported by World Rugby, while the rival union has the backing of the Samoan government, leaving the sport's governing structure in the country effectively divided.
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What the Agreement Involves
Following the talks in Apia, World Rugby confirmed that an agreement had been reached between all parties. Under the interim arrangements, a Samoan-led independent review will examine governance concerns at Lakapi Samoa, while the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (SASNOC) will assume responsibility for high-performance rugby.
Domestic competitions will continue unaffected, and Samoa's national teams will maintain their preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
On Lakapi Samoa's position within World Rugby's structure, the official statement read: "The self-suspension of Lakapi Samoa from the World Rugby Council. This self-suspension can only be lifted by a future request to the Executive Board of World Rugby and a subsequent recommendation to the World Rugby Council. In any event, the self-suspension shall remain in place during the review processes referenced below."
Reinstatement will require a formal request, a recommendation from the Executive Board and approval from the Council itself. Crucially, the self-suspension does not strip Samoa of eligibility to participate in international competitions.
With less than a year until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the resolution of this dispute carries significant weight. Samoa have been drawn in Pool D alongside France, Japan and the United States. As the fourth seed in the group, they enter with realistic hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds, making stable preparations all the more essential.
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Source: Briefly News
