A dedicated group of six referees are making history at the upcoming Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s International Tournament. Kicking off in Sigatoka on January 18, the event is well renowned for its competitiveness, aided by the scorching Fijian heat, challenging playing conditions, and intensity of the matches. And this year, the refereeing group will include a delegation from the USA for the first time.
What sets this achievement apart is not only the inclusion but also the remarkable journey these referees have undertaken. It’s a self-organised and funded trip led by a passionate group of referees who have grasped the opportunity to compete on the global stage.
Scheduled to work alongside international referees and mentors, such as the former SA international referee Rasta Rasivhenge and current Fijian international 7s ref, Tevita Rokovereni, the group includes senior referees Marquise Goodwin, Justin Hale, and Kahlil Harrison (respectively, left, second left and fourth left of pic below). They’re leading a wider team on an upskilling mission with a key focus on Referee Coaching and Tournament Management. Justin Hale commented ”Our participation is not merely about making history; it’s about serving a broader purpose”.
Popolo Project
The group have created the Popolo Project - dedicated to fostering opportunities for black and Polynesian rugby referees within the USA Rugby pathways framework. Their primary goal is to significantly enhance representation of this demographic within the National Referee Development Group and High-Performance Group.
Having recently served as national coaches/manager for CRAA 7s, National Club 7s, PR7s, and Rugby Town 7s back in the USA, Goodwin and Harrison are leveraging their extensive experience to foster the next generation of high-performance referees. They are both active referees on the MLR scene as well.
Their involvement in the Coral Coast 7s is a testament to the commitment of the American rugby community to not only compete at the highest level but also to contribute significantly to the ongoing development and refinement of rugby officiating.
The trip is self-funded, so if you want to help the team on it’s way, you can do so via www.projectpopolo.com/donate. Contributions will positively impact future resources for training, mentorship, and international exposure.
Speaking to RugbyReferee.net, Marquise Goodwin said, “We’re really looking forward to the tournament, and look forward to building relationships with Fiji. Last year we brought some Fiji refs across to Denver, Utah and California. The bond that we shared has expanded to this tournament. This is my second year and I cant wait to get back there for an amazing experience with the other five referees too.”
Good luck to the group as they prepare to head to Fiji! Vanuinui Vinaka!!