A 19-year-involvement in rugby refereeing paid off for Joeli Qio when he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fiji Rugby Referees Awards last Saturday.
Qio, who serves as president of the Lautoka Rugby Referees Association, said he was lost for words when his name was announced by FIJI Water’s director of external affairs and community engagement, Geoffrey Smith.
“Well, actually, for a start, I am lost for words. I didn’t believe that this award would be meant for me, but actually, I dedicate the awards to my fellow members,” Qio said.
His refereeing career began in 2006, when he joined the association and he shared some qualities which needed to be changed at the time.
“I was seeing back then, the referees then were old, late and they were not in the standard that was expected from the players,” he mentioned.
“That’s why I left my rugby career in order to make things fair to the teams that have dedicated their time to achieve what they need to do as far as referee career is concerned.”
With next year marking 20 years in the profession for him, he said a highlight of his career would be the sharing of key knowledge especially at the level he has reached.
He mentioned his tutelage of international referee Lavenia Racaca, and how her work in the HSBC SVNS and last year’s Olympic Games in France brought him happiness.
“Even though I never reached there, I did something for someone to reach that level,” he said.
He has been encouraging, tutoring and coaching young referees in the association to possess the fitness, knowledge, position of play and running lines when carrying out their duties on the field.
