Samoa officially signed the AU$150 million rugby union proposal on Wednesday, ending a standoff that had delayed the submission due to concerns over the leadership of Lakapi Samoa, according to sources cited by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt had initially refused to sign the deal calling for a restructure of Lakapi Samoa. Since then, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi's term as chairman has ended.

The move makes Samoa the first of three Pacific nations to sign the deal with Australia, with Fiji and Tonga expected to follow suit on Thursday. The three nations issued a joint statement, but each submitted its proposal individually.

The funding push comes amid concerns that rugby union could be overshadowed by Australia’s $600 million investment in rugby league across the Pacific, including the introduction of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs to the NRL. The Albanese government has set aside $250 million of the NRL package for Pacific development, with more than half of the NRL players coming from a Pasifika background.

The AU$150 million package for rugby union, to be spread over five years, aims to establish a Pacific championship featuring Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and possibly Australian states. It also includes player pathways from school to elite levels, professional coaching, and revived sevens tournaments.

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Koli Sewabu said the funding would help “stabilise the game and assist in areas where we have never been to before.” Tonga Rugby Union chief Aisea Aholelei described it as “a lift and morale boost that we need.”

Fiji is ninth in men’s rugby union rankings, with Tonga 19th and Samoa 20th. While rugby union has declined in the region, rugby league teams from Tonga and Samoa have grown stronger, aided by eligibility rules allowing Australian-raised players to compete.

The Australian government would manage the funds through Rugby Australia, as the NRL investment in PNG is overseen by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

On Wednesday evening, Laaulialemalietoa said the rugby deal could move forward now as Tuilaepa had now stepped down.