Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt announced earlier this year that he was establishing a rival union to take over the role of Lakapi Samoa (the Samoa Rugby Union). But World Rugby denies reports that it had told Samoa that failure to accept the review would result in Samoa copping a ban – it also confirmed it is involved as a mediator to resolve issues at Lakapi Samoa. A spokesperson for World Rugby told RNZ Pacific: “We are in active and constructive dialogue with all parties and remain focused on a positive resolution.” Tuilaepa stepped down as long-time chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union earlier this year after his political stand-off with La’auli threatened to stall a new funding programme for the Pacific’s three top rugby unions. Fiji fiascoThe crisis surrounding Samoa rugby has shades of the political problems which caused Fiji to be banned from the World Rugby Council in 2023 over governance concerns, after the government in 2023 effectively control of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU).