In a revealing interview on the ET Live talk show with Eddie Taualapini, Muliagatele Brian Lima, the only Samoan member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame, openly expressed his thoughts on the management and leadership of Lakapi Samoa. During the discussion, Muliagatele shared his disappointment and frustration regarding the recent decision by the Lakapi Samoa management to abruptly terminate his contract as the Manu Samoa 7s head coach, along with the contracts of his management team.
Muliagatele also disclosed a troubling incident that occurred during the last leg of the HSBC Sevens Series in Spain. He revealed that he had noticed four players who were purposely underperforming, seemingly intent on losing the match. This particular leg was crucial, as it would determine whether Samoa would remain in the top 12 teams for the 2025 HSBC Sevens Series. Unfortunately, Samoa lost that leg, leading to their exclusion from the top 12 and forcing them to sit out the 2025 HSBC competition. Upon further investigation, Muliagatele discovered that these four players had indeed sabotaged the game. He promptly reported this to the Lakapi Samoa board, which resulted in the suspension of the players, preventing them from participating in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Adding to the challenges, this year has been especially difficult for the Samoa Sevens team. The team experienced more losses than they had hoped, culminating in their forced absence from the 2025 HSBC competition—a major setback for the team and the nation.
Despite these challenges, including the sudden termination of his contract, Muliagatele emphasized his unwavering commitment to the team and the importance of maintaining focus on their performance at the Olympics. He also questioned the leadership and decision-making process of the Lakapi Samoa board, particularly the role of the Chairperson,
expressing that the situation could have been handled with more professionalism and care.
This interview has ignited significant discussion within the Samoan rugby community, with many supporters rallying behind Muliagatele while raising concerns about the current state of leadership within Lakapi Samoa.
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