Transcript
KAVENI TALEMAIVAVALAGI: A rugby match back in school, there was no assistant referee so I volunteered to be an assistant referee, from then the referee asked me if I wanted to be a referee so I decided to help him as he was a bit old, and a bit late in some of the running lines in the grounds so I decided to assist him in some ways by helping from the side, I was just doing it for fun, back then in 2006-2007 because I love training, I love running around and I didn't realise God has a plan for me to be in this tournament at this time.
VINNIE WYLIE: You've been selected in the world rugby panel for the men's circuit, the worlds sevens series, did you expect that? Was it a surprise?
KT: I've done a lot of sevens and we've talked with the selectors, I just thank the lord almighty for his provision and guidance and mostly his wonderful plan, as the his lord in Jeremiah 10:11 says, he has a plan for us and a plan for our future that we hope for, for the plans and opportunities given.
VW: What's the highest sevens event that you've refereed at up until this point?
KT: Here at home we have lots of sevens tournaments going on, the Fiji International Sevens, the Oceania Sevens in Auckland and in Sydney, in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, the mini games in Wallis and Futuna.
VW: Do you know when your first tournament is or will you be at the Dubai event in December?
KT: At the moment I have been selected to go to Wellington and Sydney sevens, those are the two at the moment. I will try to do my best to work on those sevens opportunities they have given me.
VW: It's obviously a very special time for sevens rugby in Fiji anyway after the olympic games, from a refereeing perspective, James Bolobu was a longtime referee on the men's circuit as well, so I guess in some respects you're following in their footsteps?
KT: James Bolobu has done a lot for Fiji rugby and also in the world series and I think he has painted a good picture for all of us, for the upcoming referees, to referee in the world series. I thank the selectors for selecting and having faith in him and in me to officiate at this level, I thank the FRU executives for nominating me and supporting me in my reffing career, to the CEO of Fiji rugby, the manager and I thank James, he's always here with us and supporting us and giving advice on what are the things that need to be done and what needs to be improved.
