The Manu Samoa team is one step away from being bundled out of the Pacific Nations Cup, and with that, the hopes of playing in the Rugby World Cup.

They lost 30-16 to Tonga and now face Fiji in Hamilton. Manu Samoa needs to beat Fiji convincingly and then hope that the Flying Fijians trounce Tonga with a huge margin. That is the only possible scenario that will ensure the team’s qualification to the semi-finals. In any other scenario, the only way for Manu Samoa to be at the Rugby World Cup is near the television set.

The excuses had started coming even before the game against Tonga. Head coach Lemalu Tusi Pisi had told the media that he would do his best with what he has. The selection of players for the national team had been questionable, as Lemalu selected players who are not involved in the top divisions. It was also quite astounding to see Niko Jones being omitted from the team after having a player-of-the-match performance against Scotland.

The team that faced Tonga looked like a shadow of what one would expect Manu Samoa to be. It is also sad that several players chose to stay with their clubs and not play for the national side. Why are we here? How has our once-feared rugby team been on a losing streak, and why are we facing the uncertainty of not qualifying for the RWC?

We are witnessing the effect of years of unsound management and the involvement of politics in rugby. This has hindered the growth of the game locally so much that we have to rely on players with Samoan links playing overseas. Just last week, Lakapi Samoa started a search for sevens players overseas. This goes to show how politics has spoiled the growth of rugby in this country. Rugby has the opportunity to be a pathway for young Samoans into a professional career, yet this pathway almost does not exist.

The appointments on the Lakapi Samoa Board and management are based on political inclination. The board is entirely Human Rights Protection Party, the senior management is using Lakapi Samoa time and resources for campaigning while there is no real focus on developing players and the national team. The Manu Samoa sevens have been sitting out the main HSBC SNVS League, and now Manu Samoa 15s are staring at the possibility of sitting out a World Cup.

HRPP was in power for almost four decades before 2021, and it had control of Lakapi Samoa. Instead of moving forward, we seem to be moving backwards. We have also lost control in Moana Pasifika, as the Super Rugby team is just choosing players who are already in the NPC.

While there are claims of things that the HRPP has done for the nation, a look at Lakapi Samoa shows it has not been done very well. It is now time to change the board and bring in people not politically inclined and have a vision to grow Lakapi Samoa into a professional entity that will promote the game, grow it so local players can be developed better, find a pathway of getting money into the organisation without relying so much on the government and be able to pay local players so the professional game starts at home.

On the political side of things, three more sleeps until the nation goes to the polls. Do make the right choice when ticking the box. Do not be like the Manu Samoa selectors who chose a mediocre team to go against a strong rival.

Make sure that your vote counts and you are voting to bring a change.