Chairman of Lakapi Samoa Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said it was Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa who was bringing politics into rugby and not the other way around.

During a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Laaulialemalietoa said there was politics in rugby and he wants to change that.

This was his response to questions regarding the AU$150 million deal involving Australia, and rugby unions from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Laaulialemaleitoa said he refuses to sign the deal if the Lakapi Samoa management is not changed.

Tuilaepa said the Prime Minister was getting personal.

"The Prime Minister wants to control everything, and this is his motive behind refusing to sign this financial assistance from Australia," Tuilaepa told the media.

"I asked him, what about the other politicians who were in the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party (FAST) who were appointed during their time to be on the board?

"Fiji and Tonga Prime Ministers have already signed their financial assistance from Australia, but it's only Samoa that's not getting it because the Prime Minister does not want to sign it." 

Wong, in response to questions about the funding, said Australia was awaiting a proposal from the governments.

"Which is how we deal with these issues, around further funding for Rugby Union in the three Rugby Union countries for whom Rugby Union is very important, which are Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. And we will look at that reasonably. We always expect reasonable governance in every funding arrangement we have, regardless of the country. That is our responsibility in terms of Australian taxpayers, to ensure value for money, and we will," said said.