Controversial mouthguard for sale

Samoa's Alesana Tuilagi has placed his mouth guard, at the centre of a Rugby World Cup controversy, up for auction. Photo / Greg Bowker

The mouth guard at the centre of the Rugby World Cup controversy over branding could be all yours.

Manu Samoa centre Alesana Tuilagi, and his younger brother Manu, who plays for England, were each fined $10,000 for wearing the OPRA-branded mouth guards, breaching the event's terms of participation.

Alesana Tuilagi has placed the offending mouth guard, as well as the shoes he wore in the match against Fiji, on Trade Me to raise money for the development of professional boxing in Samoa.

Samoa boxing promoter Pa'u Fereti Puni, was watching the news and having dinner with the Tuilagi family on Tuesday evening, when he came up with the idea of approaching Tuilagi.

"Boxing is the poor cousin of rugby in the Pacific, yet like rugby, the Pacific has so much talent but lacks the resources to participate in the much needed international tournaments," he said. "You should see the boxing ring we train in and use for weekly tournaments; the floor is concrete with light padding. Just make sure you remain standing at the end of each round."

Mr Puni hopes to raise $6000 to pay to get two Samoan boxers and their trainers to New Zealand for a tournament in Auckland next Friday.

"For the rest of this year, it's close to impossible to get any sponsorship in Samoa. Just about every spare sene (cent) was donated towards the Manu Samoa in order to participate in the rugby world cup."

Teammate Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu drew attention to Tuilagi's fine for were the branded mouth guard, with a public Twitter message condeming the IRB's decision.

"You think the fact players are wearing mouth guards protecting themselves would outweigh exclusive deals to make more money!" he wrote.

The IRB responded, saying the team kit rules are "well understood by the participating teams and are in line with other major sporting events".

OPRO managing director Dr Anthony Lovat said the company would pay the players' fines, and supply any Rugby World Cup players unbranded replacements.

However he denied accusations of ambush marketing.

The mouth guard and boots already have received a bid of $5,200, but have not yet reached reserve.