By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Prime Minister and chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has welcomed a response from the International Rugby Board regarding alleged stinging comments he made last week.

“I am very happy that they (IRB) has responded to my remarks, or what the media interpreted as what I said,�? said Tuilaepa.

“It means that they are finally noticing and taking onboard what we have been complaining about all these years.�?

Tuilaepa was recently quoted by the international media based on his weekly interview – in Samoan – on national radio 2AP. The Prime Minister is alleged to have called IRB-selected referee and touch judges who were in charge of the recent Scotland-Samoa test at Apia Park as “racist�? and “idiots�?.

“The media here – especially the Samoa Observer – who carried that story tend to exaggerate what I say ten times over. In this case, if they exaggerated what I said about the IRB ten-fold, then that is very good. Because it has obviously stopped them (IRB) and take notice of what we have been saying about poor refereeing undermining the Manu Samoa’s efforts over the years.

“I will certainly use this opportunity to further reiterate our grievances with the IRB and, especially match referees. The IRB is tasked with spreading the game around the world and these match referees they’re hiring are spoiling it for everyone.�?

Tuilaepa said that the tone of the IRB letter was “sad towards my comments.�?

“What the IRB doesn’t realize is that I wear two hats. Sometimes as chairman of the SRU and most of the time as Prime Minister. But anyway, I’ll try and say something nice about them. I’ll go home, sleep, and come up with some nice words to say to those old fellas at the IRB.�?

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