Samoa to file for bankruptcy

[TOCC]

Samoa are on the border of insolvency, the revenue sharing model from playing tests isn’t working, the smaller nations like Fiji, Tonga and Samoa all attract credible crowds but get none of the revenue when this is hosted in the oppositions country. This is made worse since Tier 1 nations rarely visit the pacific islands to return the favour.

Australia may be struggling financially, but surely England and France can afford to cough up some of the gate proceeds for these test matches. It’s the least they could do.

As for Australia, I believe Australia & New Zealand should play 1 away test against a Pacific Island nation each year outside of the RWC year. Over a 4 year cycle this would mean Australia/NZ play all 3 PI nations once.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...-opponents-Samoa-close-filing-bankruptcy.html

 

[half]

Thats not good news and agree with what you said

 

[wamberal]

Inward tours would not help countries like Samoa etc, in terms of revenue. The population in Tonga, for example, are basically living in poverty, by our standards, except for the top 2%.

 

[TOCC]

Inward tours would not help countries like Samoa etc, in terms of revenue. The population in Tonga, for example, are basically living in poverty, by our standards, except for the top 2%.

It would still boost their revenue, not by a significant amount, but it still would. Those countries also hold the tv broadcast rights to then on-sell to other international broadcasters, including Australia and New Zealand. Likewise with sponsorship revenue.

Also when it comes to the PI, the revenue sharing issue is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to inequalities between the tiers. Australia and New Zealand playing in those countries would equally be about giving back to the fans within those countries.

 

[Derpus]

There is essentially only one way peripheral countries will survive heavy corporatization and that's by splitting gate receipts for every international match.

 

[wamberal]

It’ll never happen, yep. The other mechanism would be a system of transfer fees.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Pay them a royalty every time a player who is otherwise eligible to play for them plays for another country.
They’d be laughing.

 

[TOCC]

Pay them a royalty every time a player who is otherwise eligible to play for them plays for another country.
They’d be laughing.

Might stop countries warehousing players like Nabuli and Naiyaravoro

 

[Derpus]

They are also faced by the same problem we are all faced with these days. Our best interests are in direct conflict with the interests of those people with all the money, who happen to also make all the decisions.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

"World Rugby have no rule that host nations must share revenue, despite England never playing a Test in Samoa to balance the books."

This line alone highlights why the current economic model for Tier 2 nations is so wrong. If England were reciprocating with tours/games in Pacific Islands ok...but to take all the gate receipts when you don't ever play a game in Samoa who would benefit enormously as smaller less financially stable tier 2 country, just morally seems rather bankrupt.

World rugby needs to work out something here as this is just not good for the world game to have such an imbalance.

 

[stoff]

Meanwhile it’s not just the islands crying poor. Won’t someone think of the poor RFU and English clubs. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/england-ask-world-rugby-help-13796209


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I feel for the Samoans but there's no point in just handing over more cash to a Union where nepotism & cronyism are rife to the point you'd have to describe it as corrupt.

 

[Highlander35]

Revenue sharing (particularly ticket revenue) is a fine thing to aim towards, but it should come with some sort of Contractual obligation for Tier 1 Nations to regularly host full tours and tour both everyone else in the the tier, plus the "developing" tier twos.

There should be some sort of minimum development fee paid by pro clubs for U23s as well, a la the football, but I'd be reluctant to introduce that before the PI boards sort their shit out, we don't want that money going straight into the pockets of corrupt officials as has been the case since the start of professionalism.

 

[Derpus]

I feel for the Samoans but there's no point in just handing over more cash to a Union where nepotism & cronyism are rife to the point you'd have to describe it as corrupt.

Certainly a convenient excuse for the South Pacific Barb.. sorry All Blacks.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^ given the makeup of the .au XV at present that's rather rich.

 

[Dan54]

Everyone has to be careful of say paying for any player who is eligible for Island teams, as players who's grandfather's are born in the country are eligible, so although it a great idea not sure how it would work. Would you still have to pay the amount for a kid who's father is born in Australia/NZ etc grew up there, and had a kid who then want to play international rugby? You have to be real careful where you go, and although I agree it would be great to do something to assist, it not all black and white. Would it only be one way, not sure if Derfus etc realise but 15-16 of the Samoan team in the last few WCs were born and grew up in NZ, so you have to make sure rules are so money only goes one way or Samoan rugby would not be able to field teams. I often think we forget that players come from all over the place to play for other countries, and a lot of us here a colour prejudice without realising it, we can see a 2nd generation NZ with Island heritage playing for NZ or Aus wherever, and go look raping the islands, but can then see a white kid born overseas and there is not a word uttered. Trying to remember one such player just this year saying he sick of peple calling him Samoan etc, he said I a kiwi, was born here ,never lived elsewhere, so I am not Samoan!

 

[Derpus]

^^^^^^^^^^ given the makeup of the .au XV at present that's rather rich.

Just a bit. Twas in jest largely, though i would always advocate a return of the pacific islanders to their own countries even to the detriment of ours.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ likewise, hence ".au XV" but as Dan says it's not always easy to distinguish between actual PI players & those of PI descent & the whole idea of player transfer fees is fraught because for every Fifita or Koroibete there's easily a dozen guys developed by NZ & Au but turning out for Samos, Tonga, Italy, etc, etc.

 

[Braveheart81]

It also gets complicated when you consider the situations of the individual players.

Most people look at the capping of Naiyaravoro and Nabuli for example as selfish decisions by Australian Rugby because it locks them into Australia even though they might not play more tests.

From those players' perspectives, getting capped is potentially a huge boost for their long term life plans.

If they get capped for Fiji etc. there is a strong likelihood that they will no longer be able to play Super Rugby for an Australian side and will have to head to Europe. If they are not an Australian citizen it may scupper their chances of returning here to live, particularly in the current climate.

If they get capped for Australia they can play Super Rugby in Australia, almost certainly have a clear path to becoming a citizen and also have the option of playing overseas and returning to Australia to live later on.

It's by no means a simple issue.

 

[Derpus]

Perhaps we can attempt to distinguish adequate compensation for unions and player migration as separate issues.

Whatever mechanism is used, i certainly think both more games need to be played in the Pacific Nations and they need to receive commensurate compensation for their involvement. After all, the final product (a game of test rugby) involves two teams.

What good is achieved if Samoa go bankrupt and the RFU ends up rich, if the pool of competitive international tests sides is further diminished. And let's face it, international rugby is more or less a game of about 10 nations. We are a farcry from Soccer and a truly World game.

The Samoa situation is easily dismissed as a minor issue for a small nation but i really think it's a Microcosm for a widespread issue present in World Rugby (that being funding inequities).