Referee, Graduate, Survivor

The journey to becoming one of the top female referees in Fiji was not an easy one for Kuini Vuli.

Vuli is one of Fiji’s first female referees and has officiated in many rugby tournaments for the past decade.

The Yadrana, Lakeba, Lau native is no stranger to rugby.

In fact, the 38-year old has been a player and enjoys the game as much as her older brother Sunia Koto, who was a former Fiji Airways Flying Fijians hooker.

Vuli felt that she had another way to contribute to rugby as far as women are concerned.

Referee career

She began her refereeing career in 2009 controlling club games in Suva.

“Women rugby was not developing as fast as it is today so I saw an opportunity to be a referee,” she said

“It was a reality, happening every week and you get to be right in the middle of it.”

But in 2016, Vuli was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, and so she decided to take a break from refereeing.

“I had just been identified as an upcoming referee from the South Island, New Zealand and was getting ready to break it to the top, but then I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer,” she said.

“I dropped everything and gave myself completely to my treatment physically, mentally, spiritually and socially.”

Vuli said it was her passion in the developing the sport that led her to continue on with what she loved to do.

With the help from her parents, Vuli was able to complete her Bachelor of Arts and her Post Graduate Diploma in Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology at the University of the South Pacific.

She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Sociology.

Kuni Vuli after graduating from the University of the South Pacific in 2007

Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback: karalaini.tavi@fijisun.com.fj