Money transfer company PacificEzy donated $10,000 to the Samoa Rugby League to assist with the Island of Origin preparations this weekend. 

In-country manager, Magele Dan Ah Ku presented the cheque to Samoa Rugby League.

"This is also part of our ongoing partnership with our national league team, the Toa Samoa. We also want to take this golden opportunity to thank Samoa and our partners. This is our gift to them," he said.

"All the best with the tournament. May everything go well."

The president of the Samoa Rugby League Tuala Tuifaasisina thanked the PacificEzy management and everyone involved.

"We don't have any words but thank you for this big support for our tournament. We also want to thank people who have been using your service. Our Island of Origin will launch tonight and the first game will be in Savaii. May God grant success to the company," he said.

This will be the fifth Island of Origin ever since it started. There are two men's teams and two women's teams. They are called Puleono Blues and Tumua Maroons. 

Players were selected from the 14 teams that participated in the domestic competition.

A concern raised by the media was having players who played for rugby union and rugby league as well. According to Tuala, Samoa is a small nation and there is a small pool of players to choose from. 

He said there was no guarantee that they could hold certain players for a particular sport as some players also play rugby union, tag, volleyball and other sports. He believes the decision is the player's on which sport he chose to play.