Manu Samoa captain Chris Vui has accepted the decision by England's players not to donate them a portion of their match fee by insisting it is not their battle to fight.
The possibility of giving a small sum from Sunday morning's test at Twickenham was suggested by England prop Mako Vunipola and discussed by the team's senior players but was ultimately deemed unethical and politically complex.
Samoa's players earn a match fee of about $US860, compared with almost $US30,000 each for players representing the Six Nations champions.
Manu Samoa captain Chris Vui. Photo: AFP
But Chris Vui said his team are not interested in charity.
"It's important we don't get that because we are here to play rugby. We don't want the likes of Dan Cole to have to help," he said.
I think England care, but we are solely here to play rugby. It's not their problem to have to give us money. It's not their fault at all.
"They get a good pay package and that's a reward for England's rugby players. We play rugby and we are two different organisations.
"There is a big gap but hopefully that gap between pay packets will even out in the future."
Manu Samoa players, including captain Chris Vui (c), huddle together in training. Photo: Facebook/Manu Samoa
Meanwhile England will face Samoa without captain Dylan Hartley in the starting line-up for the first time in a Test under coach Eddie Jones.
He's been selected on the bench, with British and Irish Lions first choice Jamie George to make his full debut as one of nine changes to the fifteen that toppled Australia 30-6.
Dylan Hartley has been benched for England's test against Samoa. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
