Fiji referee Tevita Rokovereni made history at the Vancouver 7s by officiating the men’s cup final between Argentina and South Africa, a significant milestone in his nine-year career.
He is the most recent Fijian referee to lead a cup final after Fiji Rugby Union high-performance referee manager James Bolabiu at the Hong Kong 7s in 2009.
Bolabiu emphasised the importance of FRU’s investment in their high-performance match officials program, which has led to Rokovereni’s success.
He is excited to see more Fijian referees officiating at the highest levels of the sport.
In the final, Argentina emerged as champions by defeating South Africa 19-12, while the Fijiana 7s team fell short in the women’s cup final against New Zealand, losing 7-41.
Sixteen-years later, Fiji has once again left a lasting impression on the global rugby stage.
Bolabiu recognised the significance of Rokovereni’s achievement and attributed it to the Fiji Rugby Union’s investment in its High-Performance Match Officials program.
This milestone underscores the success of the investment and serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring referees.
Bolabiu expressed gratitude towards the Fiji Rugby Referees Association, Fiji Rugby, and Oceania Rugby for their continuous support of high-performance programs.
He eagerly looks forward to witnessing more top referees from Fiji officiating at the highest level of the sport.
Rokovereni’s exceptional performance not only showcased his expertise but also highlighted Fiji’s growing influence within the global rugby community.
