Fiji's top IRB whistleman, James Bolabiu will be an instrumental figure at next month's Junior Rugby World Championships in Japan.

The Kadavu man who is one of IRB's top referees was approached by Coaching Director Paddy O'Brien to be one of the senior referees at the event which sees 16 Under 20 teams compete.

It was earlier believed that Bolabiu would officiate at the last leg of the IRB series with the last tournaments in Scotland and England, as he had a few workshops with the Digicel Fiji 7s team which has seen the side cop lesser penalties.

The Under 20 IRB Rugby World Championships will be held in Japan from the 15th to the 21st of June and this sees Fiji drawn into Pool C with France, Italy and South Africa.

Fiji's first game will be against South Africa on the 5th of June.