No immediate changes to Samoa's international schedule amid ongoing dispute

There will be no changes to Samoa's current international rugby schedule as discussions on the future management of the game in Samoa continues.

World Rugby confirmed has confirmed that the Manusima, Samoa's national women's rugby team, and the Manu Samoa, would continue to have uninterrupted internationals for the meantime.

A spokesman from the sport's global governing body said that was what they can confirm, without divulging any other information about current discussions.

"You'll appreciate that we are not going to comment on the specifics of live discussions, but we all remain firmly focused on reaching a positive outcome for all parties," the World Rugby spokesman said.

"Our most recent statement stands while the finer points are being negotiated with all parties.

"There is no impact on Lakapi Samoa's high performance programmes with Manusina preparing for WXV."

Manusina are scheduled to play at the inaugural WXV Global Series Challenger, which will take place at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong from 13-26 September.

They will be joined by Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, and Spain.

The side will kick off their campaign on Sunday, 13 September against the Netherlands, ebfore taking on Spain on 19 September and then Brazil on Saturday, 26 September.

Manu Samoa are scheduled to continue round two of the World Rugby Nations Cup in November against United States, Chile, Samoa, Canada and Uruguay.

Sanctions warning

Lakapi Samoa chief executive Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun told RNZ Pacific that Samoa could face World Rugby sanctions if the government does not accept a proposed review of Lakapi Samoa (Samoa Rugby Union).

"If we get to that point, then there will be no point [in] rugby in Samoa because once we get sanctioned, then there will be no more Manu Samoa, no funding, and that [would be] a great loss to us," Seumanu told RNZ Pacific in Apia.

He said if the Samoan government does not accept the review or the review recommendations, sanctions from the sport's global governing body would be inevitable.

Seumanu's warning comes as the Samoan government and Lakapi Samoa remain at loggerheads over the future of the country's national rugby administration, with the government having withdrawn its recognition and financial support for Lakapi Samoa on 30 July.

The government said the decision followed months of consultations and time given to resolve internal issues and divisions within the union. It has since launched a rival union, the Samoa Rugby Football Union.

Seumanu said World Rugby was waiting on the government to formally accept the review.

"Last I heard, they will review the Lakapi Samoa and I am waiting on the government to give their official correspondence to accept the review," he said.

The initial plan was for the review to run until November 2026, but World Rugby has proposed extending the process until December 2026.

Seumanu said the government's acceptance was required over both the timeframe and the way the review would be carried out.