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By John Campbell
Samoa is not a wealthy country - their largest source of income is donations from Samoans living abroad, many in New Zealand.
But when it came time to donate to Manu Samoa, their rugby team, the people gave and gave and gave - and now questions are being asked about exactly where that money went.
Samoan players aren't contracted to their national team, Manu Samoa. Each player earns their living elsewhere, with most playing for teams in England, France, Italy, and Japan. When they don't play for those teams they lose their match fees, which are, for many, the bulk of their income.
Those who played for Manu Samoa in the Rugby World Cup understood the financial impact, but the Samoan people donated money to pay their players.
When the team arrived at their camp prior to the tournament they were offered $250 dollars a week.
It just doesn't add up with the massive amounts donated by Manu Samoa supporters.
Samoans were asked to support their team financially - on the Manu Samoa website, the headline asks for 4.5 million tala, but further down it repeatedly asks for $6.5 million. This works out at around NZ$3 million.
The man asking for it is the chairman of the union, also the country's Prime Minister. There are bank account details for donations at the bottom, and Samoans throughout the world used them in support of their team.
The chairman and Prime Minister then went further, in person issuing a direct appeal from the Samoan Prime Minister. Addressed to Samoan people around the world, he tells them whatever they are able to give will be gratefully received.
The people listened - and again, they gave. So where did the money go?
Captain Mahonri Schwalger says senior officials acted as if they were on a “massive holiday” and were “drinking every single day”. He also said the coaching staff had to make do without essential equipment including balls and training equipment.
Schwalger also says the team “heard that board members were staying in 5-star hotels in the city, hopefully not on the Union’s expense, and hopefully this is not coming from the supporters’ hard-earned money given to support our team.”
Former Highlanders star and Manu Samoa vice-captain Seilala Mapusua wrote, “I whole heatedly agree with Mahonri. We were told prior to leaving for the World Cup that this would be the best prepared, best funded, best resourced Manu Samoa team ever”.
First five and new Hurricanes recruit Tusi Pisi wrote “I respectfully support our captain courageous... The level of unprofessionalism shown was truly unsatisfactory.”
Their flanker, and former Great Britain league player, Maurie Fa'asavalu wrote “I strongly agree and support Mahonri's report because it is nothing else but the Truth.”
Prior to leaving for Samoa, we'd repeatedly asked for interviews by phone, text and email. Our requests had either been ignored or turned down.
The man who greeted us was Peter Schuster, Samoa Rugby's CEO. He'd earlier declined our request for an interview.
Everyone else had gone. The board room was a clutter of dust and history. Trophies from tournaments past.
But what of their captain's report on this Rugby World Cup?
A fabrication, Peter Schuster says.
Watch the video for the full report