Asia Rugby has officially announced the match officials for the first leg of the highly anticipated 2024 Asia Rugby Sevens Series, set to take place on September 7-8 at the Namdong Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon, Korea.
The lineup of referees and officials features a diverse and experienced group, ensuring the highest standards of officiating for this prestigious tournament.
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The match officials for the opening leg include some of the most respected names in Asian rugby. These referees have been carefully selected based on their experience, skills, and contributions to the game:
- Craig Chan Chung Ho (Hong Kong China Rugby)
- Ano Kuwai (Japan Rugby Football Union) – Female Referee
- Jaco De Wit (United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation)
- Lin Wei Ming (Sonny Lin) (Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union)
- Ishanka Abeykoon (Sri Lanka Rugby)
- Hibiki Ikeda (Japan Rugby Football Union) – Female Referee
- Tetsuya Hirakawa (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Leow Wei Liang (Singapore Rugby Union)
- Sunny Lee Chui Yan (Hong Kong China Rugby) – Female Referee
- Ibuki Tetsuka (Japan Rugby Football Union)
- Francasco William Cammisa (Hong Kong China Rugby)
Coaching and Support Staff
The match officials will be supported by two experienced officials, who will serve as Television Match Officials (TMO) as well as Coaches of Match Officials for the tournament:
Matthew Rodden (Hong Kong China Rugby)
Taku Otsuki (Japan Rugby Football Union)
Their presence will ensure that all match officials receive guidance and support, maintaining the consistency and accuracy of decisions throughout the event.
Overseeing the entire team is Dilroy Fernando, who was recently appointed as Asia Rugby Match Official Manager. His vast experience in rugby officiating will be invaluable in managing the referees and ensuring the smooth execution of the tournament.
To further enhance the quality of officiating, the newly appointed Asia Rugby Match Official Performance Panel Coach, Peter Hudson, will be on hand as the Performance Reviewer for the event. He will be supported by Simon Dodd has also been appointed as the Performance Reviewer.
Match officials have been carefully selected by Asia Rugby’s Selections and Appointments Panel and ratified by both the Asia Rugby Referees Committee and the Asia Rugby Chief Executive Officer.
The first leg of the 2024 Asia Rugby Sevens Series promises to be a thrilling start to the season, with the top eight men’s and women’s teams competing at the highest level. With a highly qualified team of match officials, coaches, and support staff in place, Asia Rugby is committed to delivering a tournament that upholds the integrity and spirit of the game.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Asia Rugby Sevens Series and follow all the action as it unfolds at the Namdong Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium.
