Rugby referees in Fiji are set to come together for the second Fiji Rugby Referees Awards in 2029. Talemo Waqa, the interim chairman of the Fiji Rugby Referees Association, made this announcement during his vote of thanks at the inaugural ceremony held last Saturday at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Waqa emphasized that the four-year gap until the next awards aims to allow young rugby referees to enhance their skills and gain valuable experience in the field. He expressed his aspiration to see a Fijian referee officiate in the Super Rugby Pacific competition by that time, stating, “That’s the objective, that’s the aim.”
The call for Fijian referees to participate in the Super Rugby Pacific has been echoed by prominent figures, including Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson, who raised the issue during the Fiji Rugby Union’s symposium in August, and international referee and performance analyst Rasta Rasivhenge, who reiterated these sentiments in a recent interview.
In his closing remarks, Waqa recognized the crucial support from the event’s sponsors and the organizing committee, which consisted of referee officials from various rugby referee associations across Fiji. The collaboration and commitment of these groups have been instrumental in bringing the awards ceremony to fruition, highlighting the growth and development of rugby officiating in the region.
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