MANU SAMOA: A Viewer Comments

If we are all honest with ourselves, then there is no surprise the Samoa Rugby Union is broke.  Who could have guessed that after years of financial mismanagement and corruption the once mighty Manu would be brought to its knees in such an embarassing fashion?

Well we all did really.

The fact that it happened today doesn't make it any easier to swallow. The alarm bells were there, and culminated in a player revolt at the 2011 World Cup.  The promises made by the board and the Prime Minister have changed nothing.  The levels of corruption at SRU must be so deeply rooted you would need Wonder Woman and all her sisters from the girl island to dig for a thousand years before you could weed it all out.

Yes there were a few that fought a good fight in the name of the Manu and it's players, but most of them, where it most mattered sat back and enjoyed the ride.  In a sense I'm glad it has come to this.  The heads of world rugby can no longer hide the SRU state of affairs under a rug/mat. Hopefully this will lead to a full investigation of how the SRU is broke (even after being hamstrung by overseas gate takings that favour the home union) and player welfare was addressed since 2011 when the RU threatened to hold back funding to the SRU.

And while many will argue that the Rugby Union has a case to answer, it is important to note that the Rugby Union has little interest in fully developing the Manu Samoa, but we have always played on knowing the playing field was uneven and favoured the status quo of the Rugby Union.

But .... to overcome the obstacles put in front of us, we have always had to be better than the other teams. To which we have had moderate success.  To be the best we can, we have to have the best back room.  We need people whose sole interest is to see the game grow internationally.  We need people who care.  Give this to the players and you will see the Manu flourish.

For now there are decisions to be made.  Just some musings from my end.  We need to be decisive, if you hold any position at board level on the SRU - You're fired.  If you have any management roll - You're fired.  In fact if you are not a player, then - You're fired.  This is an extreme measure, but one sure to stop the rot.

If Manu Samoa was a child, then he/she would be fostered out to another home.

And if we are all looking for a successful Manu team from board room to rugby field ..... Manu Samoa and its board cannot be based in Samoa.

By:  Roger Se'evae