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Samoa resolves player dispute with French Rugby Federation

Manu Samoa will have the bulk of its players at a training camp in Surrey this week after the Rugby Union resolved a dispute with its French counterparts.

French-based quartet Daniel Leo, Ole Avei, Census Johnston and Joe Tekori, as well as Northampton flyer George Pisi and Japan-based Seilala Mapusua, were originally unable to link up with the national squad after their clubs refused to release them.

The SRU Chief Executive Officer, Fred Amoa, says the three-day camp is essential to the team’s preparations and, after sending the French Federation a letter, a compromise was reached.

“Most of the French-based players are now available for our training, except one who is injured. We’re just getting organised for replacements. We have to gather our overseas-based players into the training environment and prepare for the test. We also have those in Japan - some are injured as well and some are in a very delicate situation at this stage - but we will try and get as many as possible into the training camp this week in preparation for their first match next week.”

Fred Amoa the team will also name a replacement for winger Alesana Tuilagi shortly, who injured himself at the weekend.