RFU to make £75,000 goodwill payment to Samoa

The Rugby Football Union will still pay Samoa £75,000 (84,600 euros) as a goodwill gesture even though the Samoa Rugby Union is not bankrupt, the English governing body announced on Monday. Samoa's prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said earlier this month the Samoan union, which he chairs, had become "insolvent" and was incapable of paying off its bank debts. On Monday, World Rugby issued a statement saying the Samoan union was "not bankrupt", but the RFU intends to make a payment similar to one made to Fiji prior to their match against England a year ago. "We have said we will make a goodwill payment to Samoa in addition to covering their costs in England," an RFU spokeswoman said. "We are seeking guidance from World Rugby on where we should make the payment." The RFU had previously rejected a request to donate a share of the revenue from England's game against Samoa at Twickenham this Saturday to the Pacific Islanders.