18 Apr 2013

Sport: Fijian referee humbled by World Cup Sevens appointment

10:49 am on 18 April 2013

Fijian rugby referee Koini Vuli admits to a few nerves after being named on the panel to officiate at the Women's World Cup Sevens in Moscow in June.

Vuli picked up the whistle five years ago and will be one of two Fiji referees in Russia, with James Bolabiu selected for the men's tournament.

She says the call-up came out of the blue.

"The more people keep congratulating me, or the more they repeat it, the more I come to understand what has been achieved.It's a really big achievement so I'm really humbled by that.I'm very nervous because you have to work at that stage - at the world stage. Fortunately I've had the experience of working with the girls - the other referees - in Dubai, and I see that it's a very great team, so that for me is the umbrella for being nervous."

Koini Vuli says her next goal is to make the step up to refereeing in 15-a-side international tournaments.