Samoa has withdrawn an expression of interest in bidding to become the 15th side in the intended Super 15 rugby competition.
Our rugby union couldn’t meet the required financial and facility thresholds.
Each franchise has to come up with about $8 million Australian, “to meet fees, movement of people, accommodation, things like that – operations,” said union Chief Executive Officer, Su’a Peter Schuster, yesterday.

Amongst the facilities demanded are powerful lights needed for the television cameras at the playing field, said Su’a.
“Unfortunately our stadium at Apia Park is not a full (international) rugby ground,” he said.
“It doesn’t meet the width and length of a full international field.”
The “assumption” from earlier discussions was that there might 15 or 18 or 20 teams.

“So we were looking at whether we could get a team in that (situation),” Su’a said.
The next best option for Samoa is to ask the Australian rugby union to allow our players to play in the new franchise, he said.

“From what I can gather it’s a choice between Melbourne, Gold Coast and western Sydney.”
Owners of Super rugby, SANZAR (Australia, New Zealand and South Africa), have agreed to add an extra team to the competition by 2015 and make it Super 15.

“They’re not sure yet whether it will be in Melbourne but we’ve already indicated our interest again that we’d like to have a relationship with the new team,” Su’a said.

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