Trinidad and Tobago rugby referee Larry Mendez has been appointed as a touch judge for the 2008 USA Sevens in San Diego, California.


The two-day international sevens tournament, which will be held next February 9-10, is part of the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) World Sevens series.


The best rugby sevens nations and players in the world will be in San Diego.


Mendez, a police officer, is a former national player who represented T&T at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games. He is the current Harvard Club rugby coach and a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (T&TRFU) selection committee.


The former Tranquility Government Secondary School student said he was looking forward to the challenge of working with some of the best rugby officials in the world.

"It is a fantastic opportunity and one I intend to embrace. I have to get very fit, not only physically but also mentally. There is a lot at stake for the teams and players and the officials are under a lot of pressure ... the pace of the game is very fast and intense," Mendez said.

Mendez is following in the footsteps of fellow Trinidadian referees Paul Mowser and Anthony Pontiflette, who both officiated in previous USA Sevens.


He was appointed to the referee panel for the 2007 NAWIRA Sevens tournament held in Bahamas in November.

T&TRFU vice-president Leslie Figaro said Mendez has the ability and self-confidence to do well in San Diego.

"The real challenge for Larry will be to do well enough so that he will be invited back to future World Sevens series."

Source: T&T Express