IRB helps fund top facility for Samoa

[TRF_Olyy]

Samoa's state-of-the-art facility will feature a High Performance gym, recovery and rehabilitation centre, four new training pitches, accommodation for up to 90 athletes and a dedicated administration centre for SRU staff. Construction is set to be completed well ahead of Samoa's World Cup preparation camp in August 2011.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6577316,00.html​

Good stuff, should help the with their prep for the world cup

 

[nickdnz]

Great news, a really positive step forward for Samoa.

 

[Peat]

Fantastic stuff

 

[Faatau82]

Just the boost the game in Samoa needs before gearing up for RWC2011

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Good to see the IRB lending a hand to help the game out.

Not just making new laws.

 

[Seaton]

Nah, the IRB are just money-grabbing charlatones whom will never allow a WC in NZ again, because they want more money for their greedy selves, and not for the benefit of the game
**** I hate Bob Skinstad so much


On the actual facility, good for Samoa, should also give their 7's team (whom are mostly locally based I think) a better place to train, considering that the XV side does nae exactly spend a great deal of time in Samoa itself.

I don't suppose the other Island nations that qualified for the WC get one too, eh?
Scotland is just as (if not more) skint as Samoa, why don't we get one?

 

[Amobokoboko]

Good for Samoa, high expectations for next year.

 

[nickdnz]

Nah, the IRB are just money-grabbing charlatones whom will never allow a WC in NZ again, because they want more money for their greedy selves, and not for the benefit of the game
**** I hate Bob Skinstad so much


On the actual facility, good for Samoa, should also give their 7's team (whom are mostly locally based I think) a better place to train, considering that the XV side does nae exactly spend a great deal of time in Samoa itself.

I don't suppose the other Island nations that qualified for the WC get one too, eh?
Scotland is just as (if not more) skint as Samoa, why don't we get one?

Well I presume the Soamoan 7's team will use it as much as the 15's team, however much of the 7's training takes place in the country that weeks tornement is held.

The reason Samoa have one, and Scotland doesn't, is because Scotland is a country with a population of over 5 million, and Scotland have 2 teams in the Magners League. It's up to Scotland to improve their game, they've already got a better situation than Samoa.

 

[Seaton]

The reason Samoa have one, and Scotland doesn't, is because Scotland is a country with a population of over 5 million, and Scotland have 2 teams in the Magners League. It's up to Scotland to improve their game, they've already got a better situation than Samoa.

Are you being serious?

Oh how feeble sarcasm is on the interweb

 

[Melhor Time]

Nah, the IRB are just money-grabbing charlatones whom will never allow a WC in NZ again, because they want more money for their greedy selves, and not for the benefit of the game
**** I hate Bob Skinstad so much


On the actual facility, good for Samoa, should also give their 7's team (whom are mostly locally based I think) a better place to train, considering that the XV side does nae exactly spend a great deal of time in Samoa itself.

I don't suppose the other Island nations that qualified for the WC get one too, eh?
Scotland is just as (if not more) skint as Samoa, why don't we get one?

A RWC in a new country is a benefit to the sport. Japan 2015 will be a huge boost for Asia and Argentina 2023 would be huge for the Americas and Italy 2027 for continental Europe.

New Zealand 2011 is going to mean little for Oceania. The third Rugby World Cup for the region with the Pacific Trio of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga still unable to host All Blacks or Wallabies test matches. No path to getting into the 3 Nations. Now Japan has caught up to them. It could be a sinking ship. That would be tragic but a result of the ongoing policies.

The reason why Samoa has gotten a centre unlike Fiji and Tonga is the Samoan Rugby Union and government. An IRB report from earlier in the year heavilly criticized Tonga for its use of IRB funding. Fiji is seen as a big risk for a centre while the military are in power.

 

[Shaggy]

A RWC in a new country is a benefit to the sport. Japan 2015 will be a huge boost for Asia and Argentina 2023 would be huge for the Americas and Italy 2027 for continental Europe.

New Zealand 2011 is going to mean little for Oceania. The third Rugby World Cup for the region with the Pacific Trio of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga still unable to host All Blacks or Wallabies test matches. No path to getting into the 3 Nations. Now Japan has caught up to them. It could be a sinking ship. That would be tragic but a result of the ongoing policies.

The reason why Samoa has gotten a centre unlike Fiji and Tonga is the Samoan Rugby Union and government. An IRB report from earlier in the year heavilly criticized Tonga for its use of IRB funding. Fiji is seen as a big risk for a centre while the military are in power.

you're spot on with the political situation in Fiji and the Tongan situation being the reasons for them not getting the facility, but it would be nice if they can assist them at some time in the future ... it's also sad to see lotteries being run in Fiji just to raise the funds for their team to attend the RWC, when most of the population can't afford the tickets ... but I digress.

I disagree with your comments about the Sanzar countries hosting the world cup, and the 2011 one doing little to help Oceania as a whole ... Auckland is the biggest Polynesian city in the world, so player number for the island teams are likely to increase, the event will be televised throughout the Pacific serving to raise the sports profile.

NZ has the Rugby infrastructural already in place to host the event, and all of the matches will be well attended (even the smaller rugby countries matches), because NZ is fanatical about Rugby.

As for the Island teams being able to host the All Blacks, they could tomorrow if they wanted to, but they choose not to as they make more money hosting their home games in NZ due to the population of expat Polynesians in NZ, Stadium Capacity in the Islands, Small Population base, and low incomes in the islands.