Lakapi Samoa has never held a player back from signing a contract with an overseas club said Chief Executive Officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i responding to allegations by a former Manu Samoa player, Elija Niko.

Niko claimed that the management was holding back players from signing overseas contracts. 

In an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer this week, Faleomavaega denied what he described as "untrue" accusations made by Niko on social media. 

He thought it was unfair to make the allegations publicly through various social media posts, without allowing the management and coaches of the Manu Samoa Sevens to tell their side of the story. 

Niko alleged that a "good French club" willingly offered an opportunity to an emerging star for the Manu Samoa Sevens but was denied by the Lakapi Samoa management. 

Faleomavaega said Niko's comments on social media tarnished the reputation of the union and the management. 

"For a start, he is not an agent, he is a player," Faleomavaega said.

"He can't speak on behalf of any other players. Secondly, nothing came to my table and I did not tear up a contract. The coaches also don't hold back the players. 

"They aim to train our players and develop their skills and talent so they can secure contracts overseas. We want to see our local players be allowed to play overseas as professional players."

He further explained that their only concern is that there are too many "cowboy agents" out there. 

"We want our boys to go to the level that they deserve based on their talents and potential. We don't want them to take up just any opportunity just so they can get out of the country. 

"We want them to get what they deserve and go to the best agents and clubs because of their talents and what they are capable of. 

"Our most recent player that secured a contract overseas was very talented but he went cheap. But I ended up signing the contract anyway.

"He deserved better, but we had no other choice because we were not consulted."

Faleomavaega was disappointed that Niko took his grievances to social media, without allowing the union to tell their side of the story. 

"We're open to discussing anything and we urge them to come to us with their concerns. We have audited accounts and are quite transparent. 

"We are accountable to every penny that is given to us and that's why we still have the support of the World Rugby. 

"We've been criticised a lot because of what is being circulated on social media and all the misinformation going around and we think it's unfair that we are not given the chance to respond to these allegations. 

"It's very disappointing because people don't understand the challenges we face day in and day out. 

"Some people refuse to listen to us as they are being fooled by these negative posts."

Niko wrote on his Facebook post that an emerging player was denied the opportunity to sign a contract with a French club.

"A good French club was willing to give a young 19-year-old Samoan boy, who had a great first season in the World Sevens Series. scoring tries against the All Blacks sevens, an opportunity to play overseas. He was excited and so was all his family," Niko posted. 

"His contract was sent but the “higher ups” in the Samoan rugby union decided to rip the contract up and stopped him from leaving (and by the way this is illegal for management to stop a player from getting a contract). As a friend to this boy I felt I got punished for even thinking about helping any of these boys. 

"So for a brief period, I was scared to help the boys who were asking me to find clubs for them but I felt at that time if I was to continue helping, Samoan rugby would not select me at all! 

"Being scared to keep my place in the team because I was in a way bullied not to help these boys find clubs overseas."