The world will be watching.

Akalaini “Bui” Baravilala is well aware of it.

Women’s rugby is being contested for the first time at the Olympics and the Radford High graduate is ready to be part of history.

“It’s such a privilege to go to the Olympics, and to be in the first women’s rugby competition is something I will always look back on as a big accomplishment,” the 25-year-old fullback said. “It’s a huge world stage for the sport and hopefully we’ll grow the game, inspire the next generations to play.

“I knew I was in the running to make the team, but now that it’s here, it’s surreal.”

The 12-member roster was one of the last announced by a U.S. Olympic team, officially released on July 18. Baravilala said the players were told of their selection on July 15,two days after her birthday.

“We had just finished off a week of training,” Baravilala said of time spent at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. “The coaches let us know they’d pick theteam Friday night. It was a very nice birthday present.

“My family was jumping for joy when I told them. I’m so proud to represent them, my country, my state, my hometown. Even though I’ve been training and playing with thisgoal in mind, it’s crazy now that it’s here.”

Coming from an athletic-minded family, Baravilala grew up playing a number of sports, including three — basketball, volleyball and track — for the Rams. But rugby was inthe genes; father Etu, originally from Fiji, played for the Tama Laie Lions, captained the Hawaii Harlequins and is a longtime Rugby Hawaii Union official.

“We are so proud of her, our family’s first Olympian,” Etu Baravilala said. “I didn’t doubt that she wouldn’t make it, but when were heard … we were jumping for joy.

“It’s been a long road for her, but we kept telling her, ‘Eh, once you hit the Olympics, that is the elite. That’s where the world gets together.”

Had Bui Baravilala not been selected for the U.S. team, she likely would have been playing on the Fijian side since she has dual citizenship. Had she done so, she would havebeen following in her great-grandfather’s footsteps: The late Dr. Samuela “Samu” Baravilala played on the Fijian national team during the last century.

Coincidentally, the U.S. opens with Fiji on Saturday.

Etu and wife Mereoni, both originally from Suva, will be in Brazil for the Games.

Bui Baravilala’s road to Rio had its ups and downs. She’s been in the national pipeline since catching the eye of USA Rugby at a 2010 tournament in Las Vegas, signing on asone of the first residency athletes at the OTC in 2012.

Baravilala has been in and out of international competition since then, playing in major tournaments but missing some due to injury. Given a choice to stay at the OTC orcome home to Honolulu, “I chose to go home,” she said. “I don’t regret that decision. I was able to spend time with my family, get my mind and body healed up, andrejoined the team.

“Physically, I am good.”

It made for a no-brainer choice by U.S. coach Richie Walker.

“Bui is a natural when it comes to rugby,” Walker said. “She comes from a rugby family and culture and it shows in her play as she leads with her actions on the field.

“She is one of our playmakers and can really help create opportunities for the team on both sides of the ball.”

Since rugby competition begins Saturday, Team USA will not be participating in the Opening Ceremony the night before.

“We needed to be prepping and be rested. Hopefully, we’ll be able to be at the Closing Ceremony,” Baravilala said.

“Looking back on my journey, it’s been a blessing to make it this far. I wasn’t really into the Olympics as a kid, maybe started watching when it was in Beijing (2008).Michael Phelps was the main thing and we were watching every day.

“You got to see what they were going through, the pressure to perform, to execute their best with the whole world watching. Now that will be me.”

Team USA arrived Monday. It will be Baravilala’s second time in Brazil; the first was on a tour stop in Sao Paulo.

“It’s a beautiful country,” she said. “Very tropical, very humid, a lot like Hawaii. The people are nice and I enjoyed being there.

“This time, the focus is to win the gold. Just like all the other teams, if you get to the Olympics, you want to be No. 1.”