12 May 2017

Sport: Samoa happy with World Rugby changes

12:15 pm on 12 May 2017

The Samoa Rugby Union says it fully supports the eligibility changes that the sports governing body has made this week.

World Rugby increased the residential requirement for players to represent a national team from three years to five years.

Vice Chairman Agustín Pichot hoped it would put an end to top talent being plucked from smaller nations.

The Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Rugby Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i said it is a great step.

"We've endorsed that in our recommendations over to council through Oceania to take our views over across from Samoa's point of view and we are pleased that it's been done. I think it is a good thing for us," Faleomavaega said.

SRU CEO Falemavaega Vincent Fepulea'i, (left), and Chair/PM Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi

SRU CEO Falemavaega Vincent Fepulea'i, (left), and Chair/PM Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi Photo: supplied / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

"We tend to lose our players through to residency more or less straight after the world cup cycle, with people playing at the next world cup for another country."

He said Samoa is hopeful that the rule change will enable them to hold on to talent and have better access to players.

"It's all over the place," the CEO said.

"I think a lot of our players more or less take off to lucrative contracts overseas and some players while they go to overseas contracts to play for them I think in essence they tend to sign on contracts that disadvantage them from coming back to represent Samoa."