Watson’s help for bankrupt Samoans

ENGLAND’S senior players will hold a meeting to discuss sharing their match fees after the Samoan Rugby Union was declared bankrupt. Samoa’s prime minister yesterday claimed the country’s union has gone into liquidation ahead of their autumn tour. Their Tests against Scotland and England will still go ahead — and winger Anthony Watson has revealed the Red Rose players want to help. England players will earn £22,000 each from the Twickenham Test on November 25 — compared to £650 for their Pacific Island opponents — and there are proposals for each player to donate £1,000. ‘Now they are bankrupt, it’s definitely something we will discuss going into the week when we play Samoa,’ said Watson. ‘Everyone appreciates what Samoan players do across the Premiership. They are the most naturally gifted players on the planet.’ The RFU yesterday offered the Pacific Islanders £75,000 as a gesture of goodwill — although former Fiji coach Ben Ryan claimed the figure should be closer to £1million. And despite claims the squad do not have insurance, team manager Aloi Alesana said the Tests will not be abandoned. ‘The games will absolutely still go ahead,’ said Alesana. ‘Nothing has affected our allowance payments and our focus must remain on preparing for the games.’ The tourists initially asked the RFU for £150,000 but settled on half that amount, which Samoaborn centre Manu Tuilagi wants sent directly to the players. ‘The boys have been getting paid the same or less since 1991,’ said Tuilagi. ‘How can they let this happen? You can’t develop a rugby team like that.’

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