By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV, Port Moresby
Despite suffering a loss of 1.5 million Tala from hosting the July 8 test match against the New Zealand All Blacks, head of Samoa Rugby Union, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai, says overall the match did well for the nation’s economy and promoted Samoa to the world.
For Samoa, this was the best performance against the All Blacks, and a day where Samoans will most likely, never forget – the All Blacks scraping a 25-16 win over Manu Samoa, in a game that stopped the nation.
According to Radio New Zealand, Fepuleai says the match aided the Samoans greatly in their preparations for the Rugby World Cup.
He confirmed expenses for the Apia test which included player allowances, travel, accommodation, and training camps all amounting to 3.4 million Tala ($US1.3m), adding they were now expecting more support through sponsorship to move forward.
