Thursday 23 November 2017 07:29, UK
England’s players have decided they will not donate part of their match fee to Samoa ahead of their final autumn international on Saturday.
The decision comes after World Rugby doubted claims by the Samoan Union that their governing body was bankrupt.
At the start of the month, Mako Vunipola had suggested donating £1,000 per player from their £22,000 match fee, but now the England squad will no longer make the gesture following the dispute between World Rugby and Samoa.
A spokesman for England's players said: "As players we feel it isn't our place to get involved in what appears to be a complex issue between the Samoan union and World Rugby.
"As players we look forward to playing Samoa this weekend as I am sure they are too. We won't be commenting on this matter any further."
However, the England players have backed a decision by the RFU to still donate £75,000 to the Samoan Rugby Union in the wake of their appeal to help offset financial problems.
"The RFU will make a goodwill gesture payment to Samoa this week in addition to paying the costs we already pay under the World Rugby Terms of participation for England to play Samoa," said a spokesman for the RFU.
World Rugby believes their funding towards Samoan rugby has increased and in the previous World Cup cycle to 2015, around £17 million was invested.
