England v Samoa
England-Samoa to go ahead despite strike threat
ESPN Staff
November 12, 2014
Reports suggested Samoa's players wrote a letter to the IRB © Getty Images
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Samoa's match against England will go ahead despite the threat of strike action by the Islanders.

Reports in the Rugby Paper said Samoa's players wrote a letter to the International Rugby Board and the International Rugby Players' Association in which they expressed a series of misgivings over Samoa Rugby Union's governance. The players reportedly threatened to go on strike and boycott the match against England on November 22 unless their demands were met.

The demands are understood to have included a wish for the format and personnel of the SRU to change alongside an increased transparency over the distribution of funds. However, the IRB has since clarified it has held discussions with the various stakeholders and the match will go ahead.

The IRB statement read: "On October 27, the IRB was made aware of concerns raised by the Samoa senior men's national squad regarding the administration of the Samoa Rugby Union. This included an indication that the players would withdraw from the match against England on November 22 if their concerns were not heard.

"Subsequently, the IRB engaged in dialogue with the Samoa Rugby Union and the International Rugby Players' Association to facilitate urgent and collaborative resolution.

"With all parties, including the players, committed to ongoing dialogue, the players withdrew their proposed action two weeks ago to withdraw from the England match and the IRB fully expects the Union to undertake its obligation to honour its November Test programme commitment in full."

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