16 October 2024
Solomon Islands rugby has received an injection of referees thanks to a partnership between Rugby Australia and the ADF delivering a Pacific Sports training program in Honiara.
Up to 11 new match officials worked towards Level 1 rugby union referee accreditation during the week-long program aimed at increasing sporting capacity within country and cementing the relationship between Australia and the Solomons.
One of the freshly minted referees is Eric Ata, a father of four from a province about three hours from Honiara.
“Sport is a big connector for us, between Solomons and Australia,” Mr Ata said.
“Some of our players go to Australia to play but lots of people play rugby union in Honiara and in the provinces.”
Mr Ata said he had played rugby for many years and now wanted to turn his attentions to officiating, to give back to the game and his community.
“I have learned a lot this week and had many takeaways and some challenges,” he said.
“It’s been really good and I am really encouraged to take the game to another level, to manage the game and really appreciate what I’ve learnt.”
Level 1 qualification in world rugby enables officials to referee safely and effectively and provides them with the tools to officiate junior and senior rugby.
'It’s been really good and I am really encouraged to take the game to another level, to manage the game and really appreciate what I’ve learnt.'
It’s the start of a referee's journey to building experience and can progress on to Level 2 training.
The new batch of accredited referees come at an opportune time for the Solomons, amidst what local union heads label a “referee crisis”.
It’s a problem that’s also reflected back in Australia, according to Captain Nicholas Stoker from the Royal Australian Navy. Captain Stoker is a qualified Australian rugby Level 1 referee and world rugby educator as a match official, who ran the Level 1 referee training in Honiara.
“It was really interesting to hear there’s a referee crisis in Solomons, but not surprising,” he said.
“What’s really refreshing to see is the composition of this group of match officials, many who are still players. They are really willing to take that step and want to contribute back to the game, both males and females.”
It’s an inclusive environment, according to Captain Stoker, with four female referees completing the accreditation – a first for Solomons rugby.
These women, along with up to seven men who gained the same accreditation, will be a welcome addition to rugby union – one of the favoured sports in the Solomons.
“It’s a really important injection of foundational elements to have qualified match officials, because with that also comes respect of being qualified and demonstrating to players and coaches that they’ve gone to that effort to learn, understand the laws of the game and principles of refereeing,” Captain Stoker said.
“So it is a significant step when you combine that equally with courses and qualifications and accreditations for coaches and other people involved within the game. It provides a really robust framework and brings surety to Solomon Islands rugby.”
'It’s a really important injection of foundational elements to have qualified match officials, because with that also comes respect of being qualified ...'
Alongside rugby union, the week-long Pacific Sports training program also included accreditation through face-to-face theory and practical training in rugby league and volleyball from October 7 to 12.
While the program provided increased sporting capacity to the Solomons, it has also been an unforgettable experience for the ADF trainers. Captain Stoker said he personally had taken a lot out of the week.
“It’s been exciting and a privilege to come over here and represent the Australian Defence Force and more broadly, Australia, in that important partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia,” he said.
“Just being involved in that is a terrific privilege. It’s wonderful to come and immerse yourself and spend time with the people within Honiara and the outer provinces who have come in as part of this course.”
