A Manu Samoa 7s team training camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to prepare them to participate in international competitions has cost Lakapi Samoa $300,000 tala.

The details of the expenses incurred during the team’s stay in the U.A.E. were revealed in a press conference on Monday convened by the Lakapi Samoa C.E.O. Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai and the Lakapi Samoa Board Vice Chairman, Afamasaga Rico Tupai.

Faleomavaega said the $300,000 cost also covers the players’ allowances which is being paid while they are abroad. 

The team left the country on 1 January and comprised 20 players and six management representatives who all camped in Dubai. However, due to a large number of the players testing positive for COVID-19 prior to their departure for Spain, the team did not participate in the two HSBC World Sevens Series events in Spain.

Faleomavaega said the team was informed during their first week in Dubai by World Rugby that the games in America and Canada have been cancelled or postponed after the tournament in Spain.

“The union looked at ways on how the team can travel to Spain then back to Dubai and how they can return to Samoa,” he said.

In terms of sponsorship, Faleomavaega said if players did not play then they did not get any money from their sponsors hence the “the exposure on the jersey.”

He then discussed the impact of the changes in the Ministry of Health’s travel policy on COVID-19 on the players, saying the changes did have an impact on their preparations.

“On the 17th January Government dropped the ban of those who contracted COVID from six months to 30 days,” Faleomavaega said. “This made us happy because there is a chance that our team can stay for a while then return to Samoa.

“But that all changed when the ban was lifted again to six months around February around restrictions on COVID – this has affected some of our preparations.

“If they returned home already, they would not be able to participate in the games in Singapore which is held around April.

“It was our aim that Dubai was their main location while travelling every two weeks for various tournaments.”

The lack of game-time for the players also had an effect on them with the C.E.O. indicating that they wanted to return home as they had stayed in Dubai for a couple of weeks without playing.

It was during that time when a letter penned by some players alleging mistreatment first emerged, which the C.E.O. said was forwarded to Lakapi Samoa by the Pacific Rugby Players Association (P.R.P.).

“I was shocked about this letter because we did not know about it,” Faleomavaega told the media conference. “The letter contained strong and severe allegations raised by the players against the management.”

However, he said 19 out of the 20 Manu Samoa 7s players signed the letter of complaint against the management.

“One player did not sign the letter,” the C.E.O. added. “Some players signed without understanding.”

Out of the 20 players in the playing squad 14 were locally-based, five are from New Zealand and one from Australia. 

The letter compelled the Lakapi Samoa management to commission a Sub-Committee to undertake an investigation into the allegations to ascertain if they were true.

Faleomavaega said some of the issues raised by the players included a call for the coach to be removed.

“This is not their responsibility, it is the Union’s decision,” he told the media. 

The Board Vice Chairman Afamasaga then said the Lakapi Samoa Board had decided to relocate the 7s team to Australia, where they will continue to maintain their training and conditioning programmes. 

The rationale behind their relocation, according to the Vice Chairman, was the welfare of the team comprising both players and management.

He said the team and management have solved some of their differences internally as it should have been done initially.