17 Jul 2009

Samoa to pull out of Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

6:20 pm on 17 July 2009

Samoa has split from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, likely spelling an end to the Pacific Islanders team which plays tests against top rugby nations.

Samoa Rugby Union chief executive Peter Schuster told the Samoa Observer newspaper it intended withdrawing as the merged Pacific Island team had failed to produce financial benefits sought by member unions.