Samoa wants £160K cut

[J Dory]

pre·dict·a·ble

adjective
able to be predicted

example
Rowans use of the words "juvenile", "bias" and "predictable" at some stage in every thread is entirely predictable.

[rowan]

Cue the follow up moronic comment from Moronpork. You guy's have become entirely predictable with your juvenile comments to derail every discussion I'm involved with. First Digby makes an idiot and irrelevant accusation that is based on nothing but his own bias' and delusions, then you following up with your infantile drivel because you share the same prejudices. Clever stuff, guys.

It's entirely apt, Dory, you predictable juvenile coward.

[J Dory]

That was so predictable I actually predicted it.

[rowan]

& I predicted your cowardly antics. Gee!

Anyway, looks like we can't have a discussion about the Pacific Islands on this forum without juvenile, moronic comments and derogatory insinuations about their alleged inability to handle their finances.

[cashead]

That shit's a matter of record, bro.

[morepork]

That shit's a matter of record, bro.

Disco.


Moronpork is a dish best served cold.

[rowan]

Speaking of financial matters:

World Rugby, the rugby union governing body, has reported a pre-tax loss of £36.1 million ($47.5 million/€40.2 million) for 2016, the first year of its four-year business cycle.

A fair-value gain on financial assets cut the total comprehensive loss for the Dublin-based body to £24.2 million ($31.9 million/€26.9 million).

This was achieved on revenue for the year, which saw the sport return to the Olympic Games in its rugby sevens format, of £30.8 million ($40.6 million/€34.3 million).

The period brought a steep, near 20 per cent, advance in administration expenses to £28.4 million ($37.4 million/€31.6 million).

Key management compensation rose to £1.16 million ($1.53 million/€1.29 million) from £1.02 million ($1.34 million/€1.14 million) in 2015.

The year also brought a doubling in foreign exchange losses to £4.65 million ($6.12 million/€5.18 million).

World Rugby said the result was in line with its financial targets to 2020.

These foresee generation of a financial return from the 2019 Rugby World Cup of some 20 per cent less than the figure achieved in the prior cycle.

The 2019 competition is being staged in Japan, a relatively new market for the sport, whose traditional heartlands are in France, the British Commonwealth and Ireland.

World Rugby anticipates that an overall programme of £266 million ($350 million/€296 million) will be invested between 2016 and 2019, up 38 per cent from the previous four-year cycle.

Bill Beaumont, chairman, said the sport continued to “experience record global participation growth”.

The latest results, he said, would “continue to underpin our game-wide investment programme that is a proven catalyst for year-on-year participation increases.

“Our strong balance sheet will ensure that we can build a strong and sustainable global game in partnership with our unions and regional associations,” the former England lock forward added.


https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles ... -2016-loss

file:///C:/Users/acer%20pc/Downloads/Sworldrugby17061411090.pdf

[Digby]

derogatory insinuations about their alleged inability to handle their finances.

To avoid any appearance of insinuation then from the outside i'd be sadly of the explicit view they have seen any number of failures in the administration of finances in sport/rugby. That's not a problem limited to the unions of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, I'm personally sold there are any number of people gouging more money out of English rugby and the RFU than their job/talent would actually show to be reasonable. And perhaps we only get away with it in England as there simply is so much more money sloshing around the system.

I'd be happy to agree it's for the IRB to look into those problems rather than the RFU, but equally it's for the IRB to sort the money issues in the game rather than the RFU.

[rowan]

Well, that's not so different to my view of things, in fact. & I would reiterate that the Pacific Islands warrant particular attention in our game due to their tiny populations and economies but major impact on the sport and very real threat from a rival code. That the suggestion rugby needs to look after them as best it can should have been misconstrued as 'dictating' to them is unfathomable.

[rowan]

& here's why:

Samoa Rugby Union, C.E.O. Faleomavaega Fepulea’i is adamant the national team’s future is under serious threat from mounting debts.

Faleomavaega told the Daily Mail that Samoa are close to filing for bankruptcy ahead of next month’s Test against England.

Samoa a Pacific Island nation have issued a plea for help from the rugby world and also requested a £150,000 cut of next month’s revenue at Twickenham.

http://sobserver.ws/en/23_10_2017/rugby ... puleai.htm

[rowan]

Samoan tour squad: https://misterxv.blogspot.com.tr/2017/1 ... de-la.html

Pilieri:
Jordan Lay (Mitre 10 Bay of Plenty NZ)
Donald Brighouse (Mitre 10 Otago NZ)
Logovi’i Mulipola (Leicester Tigers UK)
Paul Alo-Emile (Stade FrancaiseFRA)
Hisa Sasagi (Mitre 10 Otago NZ)

Taloneuri:
Ma’atulimanu Leiataua (Stade Aurellacois FRA)
Motu Matu’u (Gloucester UK)

Linia a doua:
Chris Vui (Bristol UK)
Fa’atiga Lemalu (NZ)
Josh Tyrell (Mitre 10 North Harbour NZ)
Brandon Nansen (Mitre 10 North Harbour NZ)

Linia a treia:
Tala James Ioane (Sale Sharks UK)
Piula Fa’asalele (Toulouse FRA)
Jack Lam (Bristol UK)
Taiasina Tafua (Lyon FRA)
Maurie Fa’asavalu (Oyonnax FRA)
Ofisa Treviranus (London Irish UK)

Demi:
Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath UK)
Auvasa Faleali’i (Nevers FRA)
Melani Matavao (Aana Chiefs SAM)

Uvertura:
Rohan Saifoloi (Sydney Rays AUS)
AJ Mamoe Alatimu (Brisbane City AUS)

Centri:
Kieron Fonotia (Ospreys WAL)
Alapati Leiua (Bristol UK)
Reynold Lee Lo (Cardiff Blues WAL)

Aripi/Fundasi:
Tim Nanai Williams (Mitre 10 Counties Manukau NZ)
Paul Perez (Toulouse FRA)
Ah See Tuala (Northampton UK)
Jamie-Jerry Taulagi (Exeter UK)
David Lemi (Bristol UK)

Management
Antrenor Principal: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua
Antrenor Secund: Muliagatele Brian Lima
Consilier: Soifua John Schuster
Antrenor Inaintare: Zane Hilton
Antrenor Aparare: Graig McGrath

[rowan]

Any thoughts on this squad? Interesting to note only 10 of the players (less than a third) will be flying in from outside of Europe. I wonder if geographics played a part in the selection, given the national union's financial woes...

[rowan]

Big surprises are the omission of first-fives Tusi Pisi and D'Angelo Leuila, with returning coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua opting for Rohan Saifoloi and AJ Mamoe Alatimu in their place. D'Angelo has apparently been struggling with injuries.

[rowan]

Fuimaono said Tusi Pisi and D'angelo Leuila remain in the selection mix for next year's crucial World Cup qualifying matches, while there are other options within the squad for the upcoming tests against Scotland, Romania and England.

"We've selected Kahn (Fotuali'i) so he might cover the first five as well if (required) - Kahn can play first five too but Rohan is doing well in Australia. He's playing a similar (level) to Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand".

Radio NZ

[rowan]

The Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U.) has nothing to hide.

The Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i, is not staying mum about the dire financial predicament faced by Union.

Paying off debts, poor game results, attainting international sponsorships, dealing with public criticism, the injustice faced by the Samoan players overseas are some of the issues Faleomavaega spoke about during a one-hour interview with the Samoa Observer.

“We have improved considerably over the last three years,” he said. “Our debt used to be $3.2 million and it’s now come down to $1.4 million."

“We are continually trying to reduce our costs but the expectations of the country and the expectations of the world around the Manu Samoa that we have to be up there at that level."

“To improve the performance it needs money, money we don’t have,” said Faleomavaega.

“And don’t forget the S.R.U. is not just Manu Samoa, we have a Sevens team, Manu Samoa XV, Samoa A, the Under 20’s, Manu Sina and we also have the rest of the country in which we have development programmes."

“The Union is getting to the stage that our annual budget is around $8 million and from that budget, most of it is all locally raised.”

The C.E.O. said they invested a lot of money into the evaluation of the Manu Samoa brand in the past 12 months.

“We wanted to find out how much is the value of our Manu Samoa brand and that exercise cost a lot of money, but we had to do it,” said Faleomavega.

He did not specify how much was the survey or the result, but noted that S.R.U. has been working really hard to try and go out of Samoa for sponsors.

“Our government and our local sponsors cannot afford to continue putting additional funding into S.R.U. because at the end of day there are other sports to consider."

“Government looks at other issues to consider and while S.R.U. is the biggest export in terms of Samoa’s exposure wise, but the Union also has to play a part in the trying to do the work and entice sponsorships on our own off island."

“We’ve had a lot of potential sponsors, like anything else in the World of professional sports it’s the result that tends to play a major role in decisions."

“And our ranking hasn’t been good,” said the C.E.O.

He told the Samoa Observer that despite their financial woes, the Union continues to support the players and management as best they could.

“The only thing we can’t dictate at all is the results."

“It’s not all about the money at some stages too, however the players and the managements and the coaches have to play their role as well."

“We may not go overboard like the bigger unions but we do try and support them, as best we can."

“We make sure we pay them on time, however we can’t control results, it’s up to the players and management, unfortunately in terms of sponsorship, results play a major role in getting that,” said Faleomavaega.

He said the financial struggles had been with the Union about 20 years ago and they did their best to seek other sponsorships such as asking for grants directly with the counterparts that we played against and World Rugby for some additional.

“At the end of the day we depend on the government to help us."

“We’re a union that lives a day by day and week by week, and even with the money we get from our sponsors it doesn’t come in a bulk it comes in phases."

“We have been like this way before my time,” said Faleomavaega.

He said catering the daily necessities during camps for the players, costs a lot of money.

“We feed them twice a day, their allowances, fitting and so much more,” he said.

He also pointed out the Union had a strategic plan that was put in place two years ago, and it came with a major restructuring within the Union.

“From the perspective, of the World Rugby and up until now we have not filled some of those positions."

“Because we cannot afford it,” said the C.E.O.

“We prioritize the players and that is why we are here for the players,” said Faleomavaega.

Another issue that Faleomaveaga spoke about was the “injustice” in the paying of Samoan players at national games.

“World Rugby and all the richer union needs to seriously consider the issue of gate sharing and to assist two tier two nations like Samoa, Tonga and Fiji."

“If you look at the Tier two nations, Samoans, Tongans and Fijians are the most sought after players around the world so we have our players all over the world, and we contribute a lot to the game of rugby and it’s important to be noted."

“We contribute to the global game, not only at club level around the world but also our players contribute a lot to the entertainment of the game as well,” he said.

Faleomavaega reiterated the “injustice” in payments made to the players when it comes to the smaller unions against bigger unions despite playing on the same stage.

“Same players that play and contribute to the entertainment,” said Faleomavaega.

He said each union covered for their own player’s allowance, what Samoa can afford to pay them.

And that is NZ$1200 ($2,118) a week.

“We are the players who come to play, are not coming here to play for the money, but they are coming here to play for Samoa."

“It has always been like this, and it will continue to be like this unless the two tier teams come together to raise a voice to the World Rugby as they need to see the imbalance of what has been happening over the years,” said Faleomavaega.

Faleomavaega says public criticisms play a negative impact when it comes to the teams.

“We have other Samoan players who are eager to play for us, but when they read about the complaints by the public about the S.R.U. and its administrations, its players, that potential players will never want to play for Samoa."

“Samoa will never get out of this hole if the public continues to criticize the administration, the staff, the players and the management,” said Faleomavega.

The C.E.O. further calls for public support for the Union.

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/25_10_2017/l ... traits.htm

[rowan]

Meanwhile, this in the UK press today:

The Rugby Football Union has made the bold declaration that it wants to be “the strongest sport in England”, and that the country should be “the world’s leading rugby nation” by setting out plans to invest a record £443  million into the game, an increase of 30 per cent on its last four-year Strategic Plan.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... g_share_fb

[rowan]

Make England great again!

[rowan]

Samoa 7s for Silicon Valley U.S.A.
Jacob Ale
Malu Falaniko
Darren Kellet Moore
Silao Nonu
Alamanda Motuga
Murphy Penitito
Patrick Fa’apale
Tomasi Alosio
David Junior Tavita
Samoa Toloa
Joe Perez
Mathew Tuatagaloa

Management
Head Coach: Sir Gordon Tietjens
Assist. Coach: Stephen Beatham
Team Manager: Shalom Senara
Physio: Josh Melrose
Video Analyst: Junior Narayan

http://sobserver.ws/en/26_10_2017/rugby ... -named.htm

[rowan]

The government of Samoa has once again showed their commitment towards the development of grass root level rugby in the country.

To show their support, through the Samoa Sportslotto & T.A.B, a donation of $100,000 was presented to the Samoa Rugby Union on 20 September 2017.

The donation was also part of the sponsorship towards the successful super 9’s which has just concluded.

The cheque was presented by the C.E.O. of the Gambling Control Authority, Tuala-Tamaalelagi S. Tuala II, to the C.E.O. of the Samoa Rugby Union, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai.

Tuala-Tamaalelagi also took the opportunity to thank Samoa Sportslottos loyal customers for their support which made the contribution to the development of sports in the country possible.

Faleomavaega received the cheque on behalf of the S.R.U. and thanked Samoa Sportslotto/T.A.B. for their generous donation and long standing and valuable financial support to the Samoa Rugby Union and the development of rugby in Samoa.

http://sobserver.ws/en/26_10_2017/local ... -Union.htm

[rowan]

The new chief executive of the RFU, Steve Brown, unveiled his four-year plan a little over a week ago, including a £443 million investment, designed to make England the premier rugby nation in the world, and to drive growth in the grass roots game. It’s an ambitious and inspiring plan, but in among the spin and hype, it’s worth taking time to reflect on some of the inequalities within rugby.

Towards the end of November, England take on Samoa at Twickenham, and the contrast between the RFU’s plan, and the parlous situation in which the islanders find themselves, ought to give food for thought.

The Samoa Rugby Union would be insolvent without the financial support it receives from its government, but what is really shocking, especially when compared to the RFU’s numbers, is just how small the Samoan figures are. Overall debt has been reduced to $192k, a figure that would be lost in the rounding for some of our Premiership clubs – it probably equates to one-third of a year’s salary for a top-class tighthead!

If Twickenham sells out for the Samoa match, the RFU will get revenue in excess of £10m, and under World Rugby rules, because the match is part of the autumn period, aren’t obliged to share it with their opponents.

Brown’s predecessor, Ian Ritchie, neatly summarised their position a year ago in the context of a New Zealand request for a share of revenues: “If we manage to sell out 82,000 here it’s because of our efforts and because we’ve invested in the stadium. If you look at the amount of money the RFU has spent on Twickenham…of course we should get a return on that.”

Samoa are reportedly asking for £150k out of the Twickenham gate receipts, but wouldn’t it be great if the RFU went the extra mile and offered them two or three times that amount as a gesture to support their struggling Union? Steve Brown said: “We want rugby to be seen as a force for good, we want to lead the world not just on the pitch but in terms of the way we’re run as an organisation, the way that we…set a standard in England, and across the globe, about how the game should be played and how the sport should be run.”

Fine words, so why not set an example by publicly supporting the struggling Samoan Rugby Union?

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest- ... ing-samoa/

[Digby]

Why on earth should rugby finances work on the basis of gestures of support? That seems akin to reading Oliver and thinking the way to treat child poverty in the real world is to wait for rich people to adopt a poor child and let's just ignore that 99.9% of the problem remains in the poorhouse.

[rowan]

That's a rather bizarre analogy, if you don't mind me saying. Rugby is supposed to be a close-knit, synergic community, not a bunch of miserly Dickensian characters. The Pacific Islands, particularly Samoa and Tonga, can only remain regularly active in the international arena with the support of the larger and wealthier tier 1 nations. These two islands have tiny populations and therefore tiny economies, but they are legitimate middleweights in rugby and hugely popular with their dynamic and entertaining brand of rugby. They have also created a few of the most memorable upsets at the RWC, with Samoa twice breaking in the quarter-finals and Tonga stunning France. But they are already suffering in the professional era due to financial constraints. Make no mistake, the sport needs the Pacific Islands if it wants to maintain a 20-team World Cup, and if it doesn't look after them there's a rival code that surely will.

[Puja]

I think Digby's point was that it shouldn't be down to erratic charitable donations or occasional pledge drives. There should be a more structured method to improve their regular income. Perhaps NZ, SA and Aus could give up one of their three Lions fixture to a PI? Or maybe New Zealand could give up one of their Super Rugby teams to allow a Samoan one to enter. Something sustainable and long-term.

Puja

[rowan]

Sure, I agree there. NZ certainly should be helping, given its very close and mutually-beneficial relationship with Samoa & Tonga. I think they should play an annual pre-season test against one of them to blow out the cobwebs and perhaps share the proceeds 50/50. If promoted effectively, I'm sure they could fill the stadium - as they've done before against these teams. I've also suggested in the past that they could set up a pre-season 6 Nations with the islands, Japan and Aussie, split into two groups, so that each team would only play twice prior to the final and it could all be done & dusted in 2 weeks. Another idea of mine is to actually give the islands a test against 6 Nations opponents touring in NZ - again in Auckland, for obvious reasons. & finally I have also advocated the inclusion of an islands franchise in Super Rugby, though I would suggest this come at the expense of Japan after the 2019 World Cup (for which Super Rugby is clearly being used to help prepare the host nation). World Rugby is already financing the Drua's involvement in Australian domestic comp, so they could pull the plug on that and direct the same funds into a Suva-based Pacific Islands Super Rugby franchise instead. They'be be sure to fill the stadium in Suva - and everywhere else they played. By the same token, however, I think the 6 Nations should come to the party and exercise a little generosity when it comes to dividing the proceeds of home-tests against the islands, which is all this article is really saying.

[Puja]

Why should they support the islands? Wouldn't they be better off supporting Romanian, Russian and Georgian rugby as they do by allowing their clubs to play in European competition? Surely it would make sense to do it on a geographical basis?

Puja