Samoa 7s players at training (file photo). Photo: Facebook/Manu Samoa Sevens
The Samoa Rugby Union - Lakapi Samoa - has confirmed they will meet this week to discuss requests for salaries and allowances from members of the Manu Samoa Sevens team.
Chief executive Vincent Fepulai confirmed to RNZ Pacific the the union received a letter two weeks ago and they had also met the players on 19 January on regarding the issue.
Fepulai said the Lakapi Samoa board will look into the requests made by the players.
"I can confirm that a letter from the Manu Samoa sevens players dated 15th January to the CEO," Fepulai said.
"The Manu Samoa sevens squad members met briefly with the Lakapi Samoa chairman, the vice chairman, the president and the CEO on Friday 19th January.
"The chairman acknowledged and thanked the players for the letter and assured the team that the board will convene at its next board meeting to discuss all their requests."
Fepulai said Lakapi Samoa maintains at all times that any increase in allowances and other privileges is subject to its financial position and what it can financially afford.
The players' action follows revelations by former Samoa sevens player Elijah Niko that the players are not happy with what they are receiving financially.
Niko, who posted his comments on his Facebook page, said he felt sorry for the players and asked Lakapi Samoa to pay them better and look after their welfare.
He claimed he had to pay for players' food in Fiji, when the Samoan sevens team trained there before the Dubai and Cape Town sevens tournaments last December.
Samoa captain Melani Matavao is brought down by the Irish defence. Photo: Giorgio Perottino - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
'Know your worth', says Niko
In his statement, Niko urged players to request a better deal from the union.
"Know your worth in rugby and do not let anyone take away your opportunities that you have earned through hard work," he said.
"Ask for an increase in salary. Getting 200 tala to 400 tala (NZ$115-NZ$230) for a professional rugby player in Samoa - representing a country -is not enough."
He said because he saw the challenges players had financially, he offered his allowances to the local players and spent his own money to buy food because players were hungry and unhappy.
"Of all the professional rugby cubs I have been with, the Melbourne Storm, the New Zealand Warriors and all four clubs in France, I can honestly say that these Samoan boys are super fit, strong, naturally gifted and extremely committed.
"Some of these boys have to wake up very early in the morning to catch their bus and in some cases, travel long distances every day to go to training. They do this because they are trying to break a deadlock in order to fight for opportunities for a better life.
"The efforts of these boys and what they get pushed through time and time again is the reason why I have decided to speak the truth.
"I spent more than 10,000 Euros from my own personal fund for flights and also paid more than 10,000 Euro on hotels in Samoa. During the camp in Fiji, the boys were so hungry at times so I decided to go to the supermarket and buy snacks and food for every player so they weren't hungry.
"Watching the boys training so hard and only earning such minimal pay was heartbreaking. I urge the Samoan rugby union to please increase these Samoan sevens boys' minimum salaries so that they could at least live reasonably whilst putting their bodies on the line for their country."
Photo: Supplied/Lakapi Samoa
Union committed to transparency
But Fepulai has labelled Niko's claims as "damaging and false".
He revealed that Lakapi Samoa pays 18 core players in the squad 300 tala per week, developing players (8) get 50 tala per week and 1700 tala per member of the 14-member touring squad whenever the Samoan 7s team travels to compete in an international tournament.
Fepulai said a player in the extended squad and not selected in any of the HSBC World Rugby Series tournament they will receive an annual allowance of 15,600 tala each.
A development player gets annual allowance totalling 7800 tala per annum while a player who travels to all tournaments will receive a total allowance of 32,000 talaper annum.
"Additionally, a bonus scheme proposed by Lakapi Samoa to our partners was made possible by our major sponsor SIFA, also known as IBFC, with rewards per player and the sevens management team ranging from 1500 tala to 5000 tala for achieving a top-four finish or better results per tournament," Fepelai added.
"All financial contributions received by Manu Samoa sevens during its tour from various overseas-based Samoan communities go directly to the players and management, with none received by Lakapi Samoa.
"These constitute additional financial benefits for the players and management of the team."
Fepulai, whose current term has been extended by Lakapi Samoa for another two years, said Lakapi Samoa welcomes direct communication to address any concerns and remains committed to transparency, player welfare, and fair practices in its overall management of the Manu Samoa sevens program.
The Samoa sevens team currently sits at number nine on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series points table and failed to make the quarterfinals of the Perth 7s tournament last weekend.
The team lost all their pool matches against Fiji, France and New Zealand.
