Less than two years under her belt as a referee, Vasiti Raikabula’s path towards becoming a World Rugby Level Two accredited match official is a trailblazing one, ahead of the Oceania 7s in the Solomon Islands this week.
At 21 years old, her story is an inspiring one. Her foray into refereeing began in February, 2023 during her stint with the Nasinu Rugby women’s team.
Her then coach Tomasi Katonivualiku urged her to take up refereeing at which Raikabula enquired about her selection with curiosity.
“I asked him. Why did you pick me out of all the other players in the team,” she recalled.
She remembered him saying that she would find out for herself what the answer to that question was.
“Now that I have become a part of this (refereeing), I have surely answered the question that I asked,” she stated conclusively.
She officiated her first game in a friendly match between the Nasinu and Naitasiri women’s teams at the USP Laucala Campus grounds in Suva.
As she prepares herself for the Oceania 7s in the Solomons this week, she relayed her excitement at being able to officiate at the tournament.
While her progression from local to regional tournaments will continue, she sees herself officiating on the world stage such as the HSBC World SVNS Series in the future.
Raikabula was part of the final leg of the FSC under-20 sevens tournament at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday.
