FIJI REFEREES FOR 2015 JUNIOR WORLD TROPHY IN PORTUGAL

Two Fiji Rugby Referees will be officiating at the 2015 Junior World Trophy in Portugal from the 8^th to the 27^th of May.

Tevita Rokovereni (Tailevu) and Amini Tadrau (Suva) have been chosen to be part of the officiating team at this year’s Junior World Trophy Tournament in Portugal. They were given their outfits by FRU CEO Mr Radrodro Tabualevu today.

FIJI REFEREES FOR 2015 JUNIOR WORLD

Fiji Rugby Union’s Referees Manager Patrick Gock says that the appointment is a plus for all referees in Fiji. It shows that the Referees Development pathway is achieving its goal which is to get our referees to take part in international tournaments. It also shows our referees that there is a pathway for them. We wish them all the best in their officiating assignment in Portugal. They leave for Portugal on Friday.

Profile:

Introduce yourself.

Aminisasi Tadrau

Dravuwalu, Totoya, Lau

Siblings: 2 loving sisters 5 caring brothers, Clorissa Grey with 2 children JJ and Prue. Not forgetting my source of strength and someone who’s always there for me from my humble beginning until today my mum (Rigieta Bogi) and my step-dad (Walesi Talemaibau) who treats me and my siblings and my family as his own children without the Almighty’s blessing and these two people I wouldn’t have made it this far, also my wife and two children. Behind a successful man is a “strong woman”.

I lost my dad when I was 6 years old. I was brought up by my mum and siblings. I had to really work hard so that could make my family proud.

Primary School – St Mary’s Primary School (Labasa), Bethel Primary School.

High School- Dudley High School, Nabua Primary School (Sports Academy)

Worked for Guard force Fiji (Evergreen fire and Security International) as a security guard at the Embassy of Japan.

2. What motivated you to take up match officiating?

I was introduced to Refereeing by my uncle Mr. Takape Volavola. He was a former school teacher at Nabua Secondary School in 2007. What really motivated me was that I saw how he refereed a game that I was a touch judge in (2007) it was then I told myself that I could be a referee as well and represent my family in local and international scenes.

Highlights of my career is Refereeing any game either be it Kaji, Secondary Schools, Provincial or club games because I treat every game as if it’s a finals game or I treat it as a big game.

3. Highlights of your career

Refereeing in:

Farebrother Challenge Nadroga vs Vatukoula (2014)

Escott shield Final (2014),

Police vs National Fire Authority (2014).

4. What does this mean for you as a referee (taking part in 2015 Junior World Trophy)?

Personally I thank the Almighty for this Refereeing talent and also Suva Rugby Referees Association and each of its members for their support not forgetting Mr Nacanieli Naceba (deceased) and his family also my “Family” for everything they’ve done in my Refereeing Career.

To be chosen to officiate in this year’s JWT is a blessings also not only I’m recognised locally but internationally too. If the other Referees from other countries can do it, we Fiji Referees can do it too.

5. How do you prepare yourself (mentally physically) before every game?

Mentally
I ask God to guide me mentally.

Watch video clips (current referring guidelines)

Spend time with my family (wife and children) so that when I leave the games nothing bothers me and I know that my family is all well and happy.

Law revision current laws or keep up with law changes or emphasis

Attend Development classes at John Wesley College, so that I could learn from my colleagues (Referee).

Physically

Daily training i.e. endurance (aerobic, an aerobic) with a day of gym workout and pool session

For Referees physical training is an everyday thing with proper diet and hydration is a must.

6. What level of fitness required for big games like this?

Level of fitness as we all know the expectation are high from the country’s that are participating in this tournament and for us Referees, fitness is not only physical but psychological as well.

7. What would be your advice to upcoming match officials or those young kids who wish to become a match official?

Advice to MO’s and Young Referees

Upcoming MO’s

• Listen to your mentor
• Be Coachable
• Be serious with Refereeing because we can represent our country in Refereeing
• Aim High, set goals right and work towards it
• Be Discipline, Right Attitude, Accountability, Accurate
• Say you will be and not want to be, will be is that you’ll try but want to be is day dreaming
• Be humble and God will lift you up
• You do your best and God will do the rest

Young kids who wish to become MO’s

• We can’t all wear the Flying Fijian white jersey or sevens or become a Fijiana rep, try out refereeing you can represent you family and your country as a Match Official.
• Refereeing is more enjoyable and interesting rather than just pointing at some Referee who’s enjoying what they do and above all what (Refereeing) they love (passion) doing.

“GOD BLESS US ALL”

Profile:

1. Introduce Yourself.

Name: Tevita Rokovereni

Marital Status: Single

DOB: 27/01/1989

Age: 26

Village: Matamaivere

Tikina: Namara

Yasana: Tailevu

Education

Primary: Dilkusha Boys School (Class 1-8)

Secondary: Rishikul Sanatan College (Form 3-7)

Tertiary: University Of Fiji (Bachelor of Laws-LLB)-Completed all the Units and waiting to do my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP)

2. What motivated you to take up match officiating?

I was initially approached by Joeli Tubu who was a former Fiji Top Referee way back in 2006, which I said that after I finished my secondary education, then I’ll be able to officiate. Late 2007 after my Form 7 exam, he approached me again to which I concurred and from that time onwards I have never looked back. For me personally, Tubu and James Bolabiu have been my inspiration and their success has motivated me to strive to be the best and make use of my god given talent.

3. Highlights of your Refereeing career.

The highlights of my career are:

1. My first international outing in 2013(Pacific Mini Games- Wallis and Futuna).
2. First Farebrother Cup Challenge 2014 (Nadroga v Ra).
3. 2015 Marist 7s( Cup Final-Ref)
4. 2015 Nawaka 7s( Cup Final-Ref)
5. 2015 World Rugby Pacific Challenge(Assistant Referee-Final)
6. Appointed for the 2015 JWRT
7. Appointed for the 2015 Pacific Games-PNG

4. What does this mean for you as a referee (taking part in the 2015 Junior World Rugby Trophy)?

It means a lot, and a dream come true which I thank the almighty Lord for. This is the pathway into other World Rugby Tournaments like the Sevens, so I need to be at the top of my game at this Tournament so that I could be selected for future appointments.

5. How do you prepare yourself (mentally/physically) before every game?

Physically: The preparation starts way back during off-season as I follow my fitness program provided by the Trainer. As you know that Referees demands a lot of running around the ground and communicating at the same time, thus I need to have lots of endurance, speed, agility, hence the conditioning will be based on this wherefore I have an average of running twice a weekend other training exercises. Simple philosophy of Train Right, Eat Right and Sleep Right is the best policy.

Mentally: As mentioned above you need to prepare yourself beforehand and not the very last minute or a day or two before a game or Tournament. Thus I need to regularly update myself with the laws of the game and the latest law trials. Further, the use of video clips for reviewing my past games as well as the analysis exercise on the game pattern or trends of the teams I am about to officiate in.

6. What level of fitness is required for big games like this?

Level 18 or above for the Yoyo Test

Level 12.5 or above for the Beep Test

7. What would be your advice to upcoming match officials or those kids who wish to become a match official?

My advice would be to sacrifice and work hard for anything in life that you think God has given you the talent to do, be it match officiating or any other field. Honor and thank God for this purpose and never give up to the obstacles along the way until you reach your GOALS. Last but not least, for those of you who wish to become future match officials, always respect other people whom you encounter in the game and get as much constructive criticism as possible to help you understand the game as a whole, which in turn will help you understand life and its challenges.