23 May 2012

Sport: American Samoa's Rugby Union will be given financial support

11:14 am on 23 May 2012

The American Samoa Governor says it's important the territory's rugby union is given the financial support to realise its goals of competing on the world stage.

The territory was officially upgraded to full member status of the International Rugby Board last week.

Governor Togiola Tulafono, who is also the Chairman of the Rugby Union, says the territory has long-term aspirations to qualify for the likes of the World Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup.

He says his administration is committed to supporting those goals financially and he intends to make that clear to his successor.

"I fully intend to sit down with the next administration of our island and explain the relevancy of rugby and the support of the administration for sports. I have been a great supporter of all our sports organisations to develop sports as a way of developing our youth and also accessing job markets in sports. I fully intend to do the same thing with rugby."