Latest news with #PeteSamu
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Pete Samu absence to provide extra motivation against Lions, says Toutai Kefu
The British and Irish Lions have been accused of preventing Pete Samu from appearing for the First Nations and Pasifika XV because they were scared of defeat in Tuesday's final midweek fixture. Samu has been withdrawn from the side comprising of players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage after it emerged that he did not fulfil strict eligibility criteria having only recently signed for the NSW Waratahs. The composite team replaced the Melbourne Rebels in the Lions' touring schedule after they entered administration and the terms of agreement for the game state only those currently attached to Super Rugby franchises can be selected. Australia number 8 Samu, who has spent the last two seasons at French club Bordeaux, was able to play for the AUNZ Invitational XV that faced the Lions in Adelaide last Saturday because that match operated under different terms. The Lions say they did not object to Samu's selection for Tuesday's showdown at Marvel Stadium but Rugby Australia are understood to dispute this. On the eve of the first Test in Brisbane, First Nations and Pasifika head coach Toutai Kefu said the row would provide his players with ammunition to cause a famous upset. "I'm absolutely gutted, I still can't believe that they would do it, complain about it, I suppose it is what it is, but it's extra motivation for our boys," Kefu said. "We're a team that's just been put together, we're facing a massive challenge as it is, so he (Samu) would have definitely strengthened us, there's no doubt about that. "They must have been worried we were going to win. I don't know why they would do it." RA is disappointed that Samu will not be in action in the fixture that takes place between the first and second Tests. "Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations & Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture," an RA spokesperson said.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Lions accused of being scared after blocking Wallaby from midweek game
The British and Irish Lions have been accused of running scared after Wallabies back rower Pete Samu was forced to withdraw from Tuesday's match against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne. On the eve of the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday, the Lions have risked provoking Australian anger by blocking a 'devastated' Samu from playing in the midweek game. After demanding that Rugby Australia release more Test players for their warm-up matches, it is ironic that the Lions now stand accused of wanting a softer level of opposition for the game in Melbourne which takes place between the first and second Tests. However, this may serve only to fire up the First Nations XV according to their head coach Toutai Kefu. 'I'm absolutely gutted, I still can't believe that they would do it, complain about it, I suppose it is what it is, but it's extra motivation for our boys,' the former Australia back-rower told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'We're a team that's just been put together, we're facing a massive challenge as it is, so he [Samu] would have definitely strengthened us, there's no doubt about that. They must have been worried we were going to win. I don't know why they would do it.' The Lions for their part claim that Samu was ineligible for this fixture as he was not playing in Super Rugby last season, but did not block his involvement. This claim is strenuously denied by insiders in the Australian camp. Part of the confusion has been caused by this match not appearing on the original schedule but had to be inserted after the Melbourne Rebels, the Super Rugby franchise, went out of business last May. This led to the original tour agreement being amended. Under the terms of the new agreement, the First Nations side were allowed to select players from the four remaining Australian Super Franchises and in certain situations from the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika with the Lions' sign off. Telegraph Sport understands that the Lions had already rejected multiple requests for some high-profile players to be added to Kefu's squad. However, Rugby Australia were confident that there would be no objections to the presence of Samu, who has signed for the NSW Waratahs after winning the Champions Cup with Bordeaux Bègles last season and already faced the Lions with the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV earlier in the tour. The 33-year-old is now registered as a Super Rugby player and was part of Joe Schmidt's wider Wallabies training squad. Yet after a couple of days of back and forth, the sides remained at an impasse forcing Samu to withdraw. It is clear the Lions do not wish to risk any Test starters in the match after head coach Andy Farrell called up the Scottish trio of Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman as well as Ireland prop Thomas Clarkson as cover for that match. On Friday, assistant coach Johnny Sexton seemed unaware of the Samu regulations. 'The Lions have blocked him?' Sexton said. 'I don't know if the Lions have blocked him. I think it's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour. I don't think that's accurate. But look, we're concentrating on tomorrow. I think Tuesday will look after itself. The most important thing for us as a group is concentrating on tomorrow and trying to get a good performance out there.' The Lions have made clear their sole priority on this tour is winning rather than making friends and this episode will contribute to the lack of popularity they have been engendering among Australians since their arrival three weeks ago. 'We are pleased with the First Nations & Pasifika XV's preparation for their inaugural match against the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday,' a Rugby Australia spokesperson said. 'Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations and Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Pete Samu absence provides extra motivation, claims coach of Lions' opponents
The British and Irish Lions have been accused of preventing Pete Samu from appearing for the First Nations and Pasifika XV because they were scared of defeat in Tuesday's final midweek fixture. Samu has been withdrawn from the side comprising of players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage after it emerged that he did not fulfil strict eligibility criteria having only recently signed for the NSW Waratahs. The composite team replaced the Melbourne Rebels in the Lions' touring schedule after they entered administration and the terms of agreement for the game state only those currently attached to Super Rugby franchises can be selected. Australia number eight Samu, who has spent the last two seasons at French club Bordeaux, was able to play for the AUNZ Invitational XV that faced the Lions in Adelaide last Saturday because that match operated under different terms. The Lions say they did not object to Samu's selection for Tuesday's showdown at Marvel Stadium but Rugby Australia are understood to dispute this. On the eve of the first Test in Brisbane, First Nations and Pasifika head coach Toutai Kefu said the row would provide his players with ammunition to cause a famous upset. 'I'm absolutely gutted, I still can't believe that they would do it, complain about it, I suppose it is what it is, but it's extra motivation for our boys,' Kefu said. 'We're a team that's just been put together, we're facing a massive challenge as it is, so he (Samu) would have definitely strengthened us, there's no doubt about that. 'They must have been worried we were going to win. I don't know why they would do it.' RA is disappointed that Samu will not be in action in the fixture that takes place between the first and second Tests. 'Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations & Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture,' an RA spokesperson said.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Lions stop Samu playing for First Nations & Pasifika
Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions are at loggerheads after Wallaby number eight Pete Samu was prevented from appearing for the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on who won the Champions Cup with French club Bordeaux in May and has 33 Australia caps, was initially named in the squad of players with First Nations or Pacific Island in a strange twist, the back row forward has been withdrawn from the game as he does not meet the eligibility criteria."We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture," said a Rugby Australia game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, coached by former Australia number eight Toutai Kefu, was arranged after the Lions' initial opponents, the Melbourne Rebels, went out of to Lions sources, the tour agreement stated that all players representing the First Nations and Pasifika XV had to have played Super Rugby in 2025. Samu recently moved to the New South Wales Waratahs, after finishing the Top 14 season with Bordeaux."We are pleased with the First Nations and Pasifika XV's preparation for their inaugural match against the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday," the Rugby Australia spokesperson said."Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations and Pasifika squad since entering camp."Meanwhile, Kefu told the Sydney Morning Herald he was bewildered by the Lions stance."I still can't believe that they would do it, complain about it. I suppose it is what it is, but it's extra motivation for our boys," said Kefu, who played 60 times for Australia."We're a team that's just been put together, we're facing a massive challenge as it is, so he [Samu] would have definitely strengthened us, there's no doubt about that."They must have been worried we were going to win. I don't know why they would do it."The Lions insist Samu has not been blocked, but is simply not eligible for the match."I think it's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour," assistant coach Johnny Sexton said on add to the confusion, Samu was allowed to play for the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV last weekend, a match the Lions won the weekend the Lions will fly in the Scottish pair Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland to play against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in order to ensure none of the Test team have to play twice in five winger Darcy Graham has also been added to the squad, as has Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson, England hooker Jamie George and Leinster back Jamie Osborne, with the Lions squad swelling from 38 players to 44.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
British & Irish Lions embroiled in fierce eligibility row with Australia on the eve of first Test
The Lions have become embroiled in a dispute with Australian rugby authorities on the eve of the first Test, over the enforced removal of an opposition player from their final tour match. Wallabies back-rower Pete Samu had been selected to play for the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British and Irish tourists, in his home city of Melbourne next Tuesday. However, it has emerged that the 33-year-old has been withdrawn from the fixture due to a row over eligibility. Reports Down Under suggested that the Lions have blocked Samu from taking part in the game, as they have the right to approve or veto the involvement of players selected by First Nations & Pasifika XV head coach Toutai Kefu. This criteria within the tour agreement is linked to the fact that the original July 22 fixture against the Rebels fell through when the Melbourne-based Super Rugby franchise went bust, so a new 'home' team had to be hurriedly created and recruited. Samu has spent two seasons playing for French club Bordeaux – who won the Champions Cup last season by beating Northampton in the final. However, he has signed for the Waratahs in Sydney, so Rugby Australia were under the impression that he was eligible for the game at Marvel Stadium and Samu was duly selected. He has been in camp and training with the First Nations & Pasifika XV squad – and was regarded as a key part of Kefu's plans. However, midway through this week, it is understood that Rugby Australia received correspondence from the Lions stating that Samu could not take part in the fixture because he had not competed in the recent Super Rugby campaign. The sticking point was over the fine print of the tour agreement and it is thought to have led to tense back-and-forth exchanges before Samu was forced to stand down. This has created ill-feeling on the eve of the first Test at Suncorp Stadium. While the Lions are adamant that Samu was never eligible, their Australian counterparts are equally adamant that he was. But the tourists have dug their heels in and exercised their right of veto, relating to a match which takes place four days before the pivotal second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 19. There is clear disagreement over the course of events. When asked about blocking Samu from playing at Marvel Stadium, Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton said: 'The Lions have blocked him? I don't know if the Lions have blocked him. I think it's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour. I don't think that's accurate. 'We're concentrating on tomorrow. I think Tuesday will look after itself. I'm here to talk about the game tomorrow and as a playing group, as a coaching group, I don't think we're that fussed either way (about Samu) to be honest.' On the flip-side of the argument, a Rugby Australia spokesman said: 'Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations & Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture.' What is adding to the sense of angst in Australian rugby circles is that this conflict has erupted a few weeks after the Lions arrived Down Under and immediately demanded that leading players should be released by the Wallabies to play in tour matches against them. Chief executive Ben Calveley said: 'The agreement is very clear that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series.' Once the series is under way, it appears that the agreement has become less clear. Meanwhile, Rugby Australia have confirmed that Suncorp Stadium has sold out for the first Test, ensuring that a crowd of 52,500 will watch the series opener. Attention will now turn to the efforts to achieve a near-full house in Melbourne, where the MCG has a 100,000 capacity.
