The Samoan public are being asked to dig deep to bail out the country's rugby union, which has been labelled "bankrupt" by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Tuilaepa, who is also the chair of the SRU, said the Union could not afford to pay off debts with banks and also need funds to pay players in the Manu Samoa sevens and fifteens squads.

Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

The Union is holding a fundraising radiothon today in at attempt to address the union's dire financial situation.

Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, said the Prime Minister admitted the Union was in a perilous position.

"They're begging the public for their financial support in today's radiothon," he said of the SRU.

"They did not say how much money they're looking to collect but they need hundreds of thousands of Tala."

"The Rugby Union is broke so he (the Prime Minister) doesn't know how to put the situation financially of the Rugby Union.

"The Union is broke and it's better for the SRU to get up and do something and to make people look at the SRU leading and trying to generate some funds through this radiothon to help the rugby development in the country."

Tuilapea also said the financial hardship faced by the Union is not something new and was the reason behind the government's attempts to help ease the financial burden.