World Rugby has rejected suggestions it has 'taken over' the running of the Samoa Rugby Union.
The SRU agreed to implement governance, management and financial reforms following talks with the sport's governing body at the end of last year.
Since then a new CEO, High Performance boss, General Manager and National Sevens coach have been appointed, with the bulk of those roles being taken by people from outside Samoa.
Samoa Rugby's new general manager Brian Hopley. Photo: Rugby Southland / Twitter
Samoa men's sevens coach Damian McGrath. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie
A new Manu Samoa coach is due to be named this week, with the SRU confirming that the shortlisted candidates are all based offshore.
World Rugby's General Manager of Asia/Oceania William Glenwright says the reform process is being driven by the Samoa Rugby Union and they are simply providing assistance at the SRU's request.
"I'm aware of concerns that a lot of those senior positions have been taken up by people that aren't Samoan. I don't accept that this is a 'World Rugby takeover' - in some of those positions we have sat on the selection panel, that is true, but we have been just one of three, four, sometimes five [people on the panel] and our only concern - as it is with the Samoa Rugby Union - is to ensure that we get the best possible people in the right positions that we can afford. If those people can be Samoans then good and well but our main concern is getting the best possible people in place".
William Glenwright says World Rugby also runs a thorough training and education programme that is committed to upskilling Samoan based coaches, match officials, sports science and medicine staff and administrators.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
