Autumn Tests: Samoa rugby not bankrupt, says World Rugby

Samoa were beaten 44-38 by Scotland at Murrayfield in their first autumn international

World Rugby has denied Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) is bankrupt before Saturday's Test match against England.

Samoan rugby was declared bankrupt by prime minister and SRU chairman Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi before the team faced Scotland on 11 November.

"Recent statements made by the chairman of the SRU questioning World Rugby's funding package are inaccurate," the world governing body said on Monday.

Malielegaoi had asked the public to donate money to keep the sport alive.

"World Rugby continues to be fully committed to assisting the SRU with its current financial, administrative and governance challenges," the governing body said in a statement.

"While the SRU's failure to implement some jointly agreed high-performance initiatives in 2017 is a concern to World Rugby, it has resulted in a small amount of conditional investment being withheld.

"World Rugby can clarify that the union is not bankrupt."

The governing body also rejected suggestions from Malielegaoi that it interfered with the appointment of Samoa's head coach.

World Rugby says the SRU instead failed to accept the recommendation of an independent selection panel, which led to the withdrawal of funding for the position.

Samoa lost 44-38 to Scotland in their first autumn international in an 11-try epic at Murrayfield.