Samoa wants £160K cut

[zer0]

One outs, g.

[rowan]

I see where you guys are coming from on this...

[Puja]

Not exactly tipping the scales towards being worth engaging with here Rowan.

Puja

[rowan]

You've already failed dismally in that respect, unless you thought all those silly comments on the previous page were somehow 'clever."

Anyway, I've stated the case for an increased percentage of the gate as opposed to handouts. No one had a sensible response to that, so I'd say that's about as far as we're going to get with this discussion.

[Donny osmond]

But I'm not the one starting with the insults, Puja, and you know it well. Indeed, you are the ones attempting to derail a discussion about the plight of Pacific rugby by starting with the insults. You've admitted yourself that you think juvenile wind-ups are really, really clever - then feign indignation at any similar response.

The first insult on this thread was you responding to JDory asking a question by sarcastically calling him Einstein.

You really do baffle me sometimes Rowan. Occasionally, you seem to be in the mood for talking about rugby and you do know a reasonable bit and keep yourself well informed. Sometimes, there are good and interesting conversations to be had, like this one was. And on other occasions, you randomly decide that everyone's slighting you, throw a hissy fit and call everyone juvenile and cowards, and seem entirely unaware that you're making everyone laugh at you for how little composure you have and, ironically, how immature you're being.

I really cannot work out whether it's worth engaging with you or not.

Puja

Its worth you engaging with him to keep the rest of us entertained.

For which, many thanks and keep it up!

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

[rowan]

Nothing like toying with wind-up merchants

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Donny!

[rowan]

For those actually interested in the topic at hand, here's the latest from the Observer, with a Chinese construction company apparently coming to the aid of the cash-strapped SRU:

The financially strapped Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U.) received a much-needed shot in the arm on Wednesday night when the nation pledged more than $350,000 to help.

The money was raised during a Radiothon held at the S.T.A Fale and screened live on TV1.

It was not possible to get a comment from Chief Executive Officer of S.R.U, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i, yesterday.

When the Radiothon ended though, it was announced on TV that the money pledged had reached $354,000.

This included a donation of $160,000 from a Chinese company, Shanghai Construction. Other top donations included $30,000 from Ott family as well as $20,000 and $10,000 lots donated by individuals and other companies.

The radiothon followed the public declaration by the Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi that the Union is “insolvent.”

The money therefore will help pay for the insurance of Manu Samoa players who are in Europe for their Northern Hemisphere tour, which starts against Scotland on Sunday morning.

It will also be used to pay the salary of coach, Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua. His appointment has been questioned by World Rugby after the S.R.U. rejected the recommendation by the Selection Panel and picked the seventh ranked Fuimaono for the job.

According to a spokesperson of Shanghai Construction Company, they were to present their pledge $160,000 to the Union yesterday.

Shanghai Construction Group Project Coordinator, Amanda Yuan, said they were only too happy to help the Union as it is their way of giving back to Samoa.

“Our help towards the Samoa Rugby Union’s fundraising is part of our gratitude and appreciation to the government and the people of Samoa,” Ms. Yuan said.

“The Shanghai Construction Company understands that rugby carries the pride of the Samoan people as well as the national sport of the country.”

Ms. Yuan also said their financial help towards the Samoa Rugby Union reflected their experience since their arrival.

“We have been here in Samoa for almost 10 years now and the government and people of Samoa have been so good to us and so friendly, so this small help is to let them know their hospitality to us is something big and we are not taking it lightly.”

The Union also received more good news yesterday with the English Rugby Union pledging US$100,000 (T$250,000) from the proceeds of the upcoming test match between the two countries at Twickenham. This does not include donations pledged by individual English players to their counterparts.

Speaking at the opening of the Radiothon, Tuilaepa noted that while Samoa’s rugby has not delivered enlightening results, it is the nature of the sport.

“Compared to powerful and resourceful rugby nations with the financial capacities complemented by millions in pool players to select their national sides, Samoa’s meager population of a little over 180,000 to pick our best cannot compete,” he said.

“On that note, I commend our overseas based players who have put country before money by committing to play and represent Samoa not only in rugby but in rugby league and other sports disciplines.

“You only need to look at the Tongan representative team competing in the Rugby League World Cup.

“The Tongan players have sacrificed their lucrative salaries to take time out from their New Zealand and Australian Clubs to put their country first.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that despite the S.R.U.’s financial dilemma it is not stopping the union from moving forward with chances that include a slight increase in allowances for players.

“Retaining our players is a crucial component to the SRU’s long term investment to have our best players available to represent Samoa,” said Tuilaepa.

“We are a Union with endless financial tension that is continuously in the public arena, and haunted by its past failures and at times we have copped unfair and scathing criticism.”

http://sobserver.ws/en/10_11_2017/local ... feline.htm

[Puja]

You've already failed dismally in that respect, unless you thought all those silly comments on the previous page were somehow 'clever."

Anyway, I've stated the case for an increased percentage of the gate as opposed to handouts. No one had a sensible response to that, so I'd say that's about as far as we're going to get with this discussion.

I was going to ask you to reference exactly where you thought I'd been silly on the previous page, but we've been down the road of me asking you to quote exactly where "someone else started it" before and it didn't go anywhere.

I don't know if you've realised this, but I am literally the only person on this board who engages with you on rugby stuff. I've wandered around your threads and it's either people on the wind up or just you, posting alone, amidst the tumbleweed. And it's not because you're not posting anything interesting - it's because you've alienated everyone else and made yourself a figure of fun with your random fits of outrage and ridiculous insults. You claim to be in your sixties, but with your overactive sense of umbrage and ability to take offence at nothing at all, I'd easier believe you to be 14 (or Donald Trump).

Sad it is to say, I am possibly the closest thing you have to a friend on here. Everyone else just finds you ridiculous. It's a shame, because you do scrape up some really interesting rugby news and occasionally you're worth talking to, but right now, you're really not seeming worth the effort. It's just sad.

Puja

[morepork]

Great post Puja. The best possible retort to accusations of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

[Puja]

I have actually discovered, in the course of this, that this board software has an "Ignore user" function which hides all posts from a person. If anyone else feels the need to use it, it is in the User Control Panel, the tab is called "Friends & Foes" and it makes the board look like this:



Puja

[rowan]

I see where you guys are coming from on this...

I should apologize for any undue offense which may have been caused to the people in this photo . . .

[Digby]

I have actually discovered, in the course of this, that this board software has an "Ignore user" function which hides all posts from a person. If anyone else feels the need to use it, it is in the User Control Panel, the tab is called "Friends & Foes" and it makes the board look like this:



Puja

I'd contend it looks more like this

[rowan]

I see where you guys are coming from on this...

I should apologize for any undue offense which may have been caused to the people in this photo . . .

Is that you on the left, Digby?

[Puja]

I have actually discovered, in the course of this, that this board software has an "Ignore user" function which hides all posts from a person. If anyone else feels the need to use it, it is in the User Control Panel, the tab is called "Friends & Foes" and it makes the board look like this:



Puja

I'd contend it looks more like this

Might just be that I'm viewing this on a phone, but I can't see the image.

Puja

[Digby]

I have actually discovered, in the course of this, that this board software has an "Ignore user" function which hides all posts from a person. If anyone else feels the need to use it, it is in the User Control Panel, the tab is called "Friends & Foes" and it makes the board look like this:



Puja

I'd contend it looks more like this

[morepork]

Rowan, you are one stupid mutha bro. You should do a Captain Oates.

[morepork]

Rowan, you are one stupid mutha bro. You should do a Captain Oates.

Let's quote ourselves.

[rowan]

I see where you guys are coming from on this...

I should apologize for any undue offense which may have been caused to the people in this photo . . .

Morepork in the middle? I pick him for being a short guy on account of his massive chip

[Puja]

Rowan, you are one stupid mutha bro. You should do a Captain Oates.

Let's quote ourselves.

It is actually very restful having him on ignore. I can see that he's posting in the NZ vs France thread, but not what he's saying. It's a 50:50 shot whether those posts are rational conversation or angry interjections about how wrong I am, but I'm finding I'm not missing the rational conversation and, without me engaging him, no-one else seems to be referring to whatever he's posting about so I'm clearly not missing anything germane to the conversation. You should really try it.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

Cheers Puja.

[Stones of granite]

Awwww! Don't stop now!!

[kk67]

Rowan, you are one stupid mutha bro. You should do a Captain Oates.

Let's quote ourselves.

It is actually very restful having him on ignore. I can see that he's posting in the NZ vs France thread, but not what he's saying. It's a 50:50 shot whether those posts are rational conversation or angry interjections about how wrong I am, but I'm finding I'm not missing the rational conversation and, without me engaging him, no-one else seems to be referring to whatever he's posting about so I'm clearly not missing anything germane to the conversation. You should really try it.

Puja

I'm happy to engage with Rowan. The ignore function is a pain in the harris.

I'd be interested to know which mineral assets Samoa has which is making them attractive to Chinese construction.
They don't contribute anything without a quid pro quo.

[rowan]

The Chinese are just looking for business wherever they can find it and are able to undercut Western companies, obviously. In fact, a Chinese construction firm has been one of the major donors to the SRU's cause, as you may have noted in a piece from the Observer I posted before the hayseed chewers hijacked the thread...

[Puja]

I'd be interested to know which mineral assets Samoa has which is making them attractive to Chinese construction.
They don't contribute anything without a quid pro quo.

The Chinese just like the idea of being the preeminent power in the Pacific and having soft power all the way up and down the island chains. Mostly because they're supplanting the US, rather than because Samoa itself has anything in particular that they want.

Puja

[rowan]

Ah, yes, the 'yellow peril,' threatening American hegemony. That fits in with the prevalent ideology being expressed on this thread. Nothing to do with wanting to do business, help out a regional neighbor and feed a billion or so mouths back at home, of course.