Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Photo: Screengrab
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has stepped down as Lakapi Samoa (Samoa Rugby) chairman.
Lakapi Samoa president Namulauulu Sami Leota will serve as interim chairman.
The union said in a statement the change is now in effect.
"Lakapi Samoa acknowledges the conclusion of the chairmanship tenure of Honourable Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, who has served the union with distinction for many years," the statement said.
"His leadership spanned a significant period in the union's history, during which Samoan rugby continued to strengthen its presence on the international stage while maintaining its deep roots within communities across the country."
Namulauulu also acknowledged Tuilaepa in the statement, thanking him "for his many years of service to the governance of rugby in Samoa and his support for the growth of the game in our country" on behalf of the board.
"We remain committed to the work of strengthening rugby in Samoa while continuing to ensure the stability and good governance of the union moving forward."
A political stand-off between Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Polāta'ivao Schmidt and Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi looked set to stall a new rugby funding program for the Pacific's three major rugby unions.
Australia is set to give AUD$150 million for the next five years to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
But while Fiji and Tonga rugby unions and their governments have signed the deal, Samoa have not.
Prime Minister La'auli revealed last week he will not sign any new agreement until Tuilaepa and his board resign and make way for new appointments.
Yesterday he stated he will form a new rugby union to manage the sport in his country if the change does not happen.
He claims rugby in Samoa is in disarray because of the current Lakapi Samoa management.
The government-owned Savali Newspaper said in their translated version of the PM's press statement this week that if the board fails to resign, government together with former rugby players and supporters of Samoa rugby will establish a new rugby union.
He said he had informed representatives of the Rugby Australia, the General Manager of Government Relations and Pacific Partnerships Daniel Millis, and cultural liaison officer Fa'alafi Pa Enari, and World Rugby who met with him in Apia this week.
Manusima Samoa players celebrate following the WXV 3 2024 match between Samoa v Madagascar at The Sevens 2 Stadium on October 11, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as they qualify for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo: Christopher Pike - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images Photo: Christopher Pike - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
The meeting discussed the Veimoana Partnership, which aims to allocate AU$50 million each to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
It aims to develop rugby in Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga over the next five years.
But speaking to RNZ Pacific earlier on Friday, Tuilaepa said it was a "ridiculous political decision to withhold funds just because I have been chairman of Rugby Samoa for the last 26 years".
"If I step down it's because of my own personal decision."
He had also told Newsline Samoa "there is nothing wrong" with the Lakapi Samoa board.
Samoa Global News reports Tuilaepa told 685 Radio that he checked when his current term is up on Friday morning, and he would not be seeking re-election.
Tuilaepa claimed when La'auli became prime minister "he refused to sign [the Veimoana Partnership] because he wanted to sack all the members of Lakapi Samoa Board".
"Australia is not unaware of the problems that Samoa [rugby] is facing ... politicising by La'auli, and it is not a good attitude for a leader."
Tuilaepa told RNZ the Prime Minister's call to set up a new rugby union will not work as World Rugby will not allow that to happen.
"World Rugby has already given its opinion that that is not right," Tuilaepa stated.
Tuilaepa said Rugby Australia should go ahead and release funding to Fiji and Tonga since both their unions and governments have signed the agreement.
La'auli said last week it was the Samoan government's duty to make sure Australia's funding assistance for rugby is well-distributed in a proper manner of transparency and accountability.
"We are still in the middle of sorting out between the government and our rugby body here to make sure we come up to a solution to sort it out in future," he said.
"But we won't want to be left out. We will still continue to negotiate in a way so that all requirement is fulfilled under your scheme, and we are still negotiating and also discussing whichever is the best way to move forward."
Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union board chairman John Sanday indicated they would push for the funding to be released to them and Tonga, if Samoa is not signing.
Tonga Rugby Union chief executive Aisea Aholelei stated they are hoping the issue with Samoa would be released soon so that they can move on with plans.
