Union seeks payment for releasing Samoan player for World Cup

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union are seeking payment from Samoa for hooker Mo Schwalger to play for them in the World Cup next month.

Hawke's Bay union chief executive Ian Condon today denied a report that his union had breached International Rugby Board regulations by demanding a $10,000 payment from Samoa.

But he said today Hawke's Bay had written to the Samoan Rugby Union asking for "reimbursement" of money paid to Schwalger under a National Provincial Championships contract "and the figure is negotiable".

"We believe that we're entitled to some financial payout from Samoa because we have contracted the player for the whole NPC," he told Radio Sport.

Schwalger was selected by Samoa after Trevor Leota withdrew from the World Cup team because his English club Wasps would not pay him while he was away at the Cup in Australia.

Samoa's coach John Boe has, with other Pacific Island rugby officials, lamented the unavailability of players through financial pressures from rich rugby nations.

But Condon said Schwalger was going to the World Cup with the Hawke's Bay union's blessing and said it was "debatable" whether the Samoan union was poorer than his own.

Financial considerations have ruled out five British-based Samoa players for the World Cup and Waikato fullback Loki Crichton was told recently that his Super 12 contract with the Chiefs would be jeopardised if he played for Samoa and did not see out Waikato's NPC campaign.

- NZPA