Puheke makes mark as the only Pacific Island Referee to be part of Touch World Cup 2024
Hivi Puheke said that he has always wanted more young people to take up the sport of touch, and then go on to become referees.
Puheke is grateful to his family for funding his travel costs to the Touch World Cup in England.
Hivi Togia Puheke from Avatele recently returned from the Touch World Cup 2024 held in Nottingham, England from the 15th to the 21st of July where he was the only referee from the Pacific Islands.
Puheke spoke with BCN News last week about his role at the games where he refereed 13 games between more than 30 countries competing at the games. He said that he was happy to be recognized for his skills as an international referee when he received an invitation from the International Touch Federation.
He has participated as a referee at the Pacific Games and other regional touch tournaments over the years but this is the first time he was invited to a major international tournament.
Puheke said that after the Touch World Cup which is held every 4 years, he has been invited to consider refereeing for the Euro Cup next year and the US Touch Competition in America.
Somewhere closer to home, there is also the opportunity to referee the Cook Islands and the Fiji Touch tournaments later this year.
Hivi Puheke said that he has always wanted more young people to take up the sport of touch, and then go on to become referees. Touch is not as popular or well funded as rugby or soccer but the opportunities are there for young Niueans to travel as referees.
Puheke is grateful to his family for funding his travel costs to the Touch World Cup in England.
The tournament had about 190 teams representing 30 plus nations from across the world.
