(L-R) Fiji referee James Bolabiu, IRB referee manager Paddy O'Brien, Samoa touch judge Laifaga Unasa
17 APRIL 2007
By Jeremy Inson
The IRB Under 19 World Championship 2007 is rightly recognised as being an important step in a player’s development. However, it is not only the players who will benefit from their time in Belfast as two officials from the opposite side of the world are discovering.
James Bolabiu, a referee from Fiji, and Laifaga Unasa, a Samoan touch judge, are building their reputations thanks to the IRB High Performance Units (HPU) that have been set up in their countries and also in Tonga, with the purpose of producing players, coaches and officials for the highest level.
On Tuesday 17 April Bolabiu referees his third match of the tournament, but first in Division A, when he takes charge between Ireland against Japan at Shaw’s Bridge. Unasa meanwhile will run the line in the England v Argentina game at the same venue, his eighth match of the tournament.
Bolabiu, one of six referees in Fiji’s High Performance Unit, knows exactly how being in Belfast has benefited his career.
“For us, the referees, it is one of our biggest achievements regarding the development that has been done by the HPU. It is the greatest thing that has happened to Fiji rugby," Bolabiu told irbu19.com.
“It is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my rugby career. It is a big honour and I am really enjoying it."
Improving levels
The 24-year-old is under no illusions as to why his refereeing is improving at the tournament, saying: "Here I’ve learned a lot, especially my positioning, my game management and also how to present yourself in a rugby match.
“It is a great learning experience for me, especially mingling with all these referees from these other countries.”
In Belfast Bolabiu, a law student at The University of the South Pacific, is under the watchful eye of IRB Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien.
“The first time I met Paddy O’Brien I told him when I started refereeing one of my aims was to meet him. I really admire the way in which he used to control games,” said Bolabiu.
Apia to Belfast
A two day journey from Samoa’s capital Apia to Belfast has not been enough to dampen Unasa’s enthusiasm at his first major tournament and he realises what the opportunity means.
“I am the only one to represent the Samoa Rugby Union for this tournament. But I know I have to put in 100 percent as I know I am representing my country. The main thing is to enjoy the tournament,” Unasa said.
He realises the value of the Samoa HPU, even though a lot of work goes into improving him and his fellow officials.
“We have training sessions and we have discussions about the laws, including an exam. We even had a fitness test.
“The importance of the HPU is that it is going to open the door for us and give us much more understanding of not only the laws, but also the way of control, positioning and signals.”
Future dreams
Even though Samoa are considered a developing rugby nation, the maths and science teacher has high hopes for his officiating career.
Right now I am looking forward to being one of the top referees in the World, even if I am from Samoa. I am looking not only to Under 19 or Under 21, but maybe the World Cup.
Samoa touch judge Laifaga Unasa
“Right now I am looking forward to being one of the top referees in the world, even if I am from Samoa. I am looking not only to Under 19 or Under 21, but maybe the World Cup,” he said.
The performances of the two match officials in Belfast have been of great satisfaction to O’Brien.
“James Bolabiu has been very good in the games he has done so far and Laifaga Unasa is an outstanding team member and a good touch judge,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien, a former New Zealand Test referee, understands just how important the improvement of referees in the developing nations is.
“If you look at the seven’s circuit Fiji and Samoa are dominating. These players when they play every Saturday need to be refereed by good referees, if not their standards will slip no matter how well coached they are.
“It is nonsense to have players playing at a certain level and then being refereed by people who are not good enough. Coaches are realising that it is not worth sweating and putting in the hard yards as if they are going out on a Saturday and having someone who is not capable refereeing them.”
Great referees
For O’Brien, who refereed 35 Test matches in a 20-year career, he knows what makes the difference between a good referee and a great one.
“Feel for the game and management. A lot of players can learn the law book, but they have to have a feel for the games. It’s an understanding of the game and we’ve seen that James has it,” he said.
O’Brien realises that it will be difficult, but not impossible, for Bolabiu and Unasa to reach the very top of officiating.
“It’s going to be hard to get on the IRB Test Panel as they have to be refereeing either Super 14 or European Cup, but if we can have James and Laifaga refereeing in the Pacific Six Nations then we have achieved something.”
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