Asia Rugby has confirmed the match official panels for the upcoming Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens competitions in China, with the spotlight firmly set on two highly anticipated tournaments: the Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Boys’ and Girls’ Sevens in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia (13–14 September), and the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s and Women’s Sevens Series Leg 1 in Hangzhou, the iconic host city of the 2023 Asian Games (20–21 September).
These appointments highlight Asia Rugby’s commitment to developing refereeing excellence across the continent, ensuring a diverse panel of experienced and emerging officials from across Asia and beyond.
Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens Hohhot, China (13–14 September)
- Referees: Alice Chenzhuo (F), China; Qu Shenggang, China; Dechdanai “Top” Wongyuen, Thailand; Thomas Ngan, Hong Kong China; Aiman Adeeb, Malaysia; Adeline Chew (F), Singapore; Hibiki Ikeda (F) Japan; Sunny Lee Chui Yan (F), Hong Kong China; Rikito Nobuhara, Japan; Niu Yuru (F), China.
Referee management team:
- Dilroy Fernando, Referee Manager Asia Rugby
- Nizam Nazarudin, Performance Reviewer
- Ralph Ybema, Citing commissioner
- Lee Wing Yi Gabriel, Performance Reviewer
Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s and Women’s Sevens Series Leg 1 Hangzhou, China (20–21 September)
- Referees: Aymen Jriji, Saudi Arabia, Craig Chan, Hong Kong China, Qu Shenggang, China, Dechdanai “Top” Wongyuen, Thailand, Sunny Lee Chui Yan (F) Hong Kong China, Ibuki Tetsuka, Japan, Hibiki Ikeda (F) Japan), Christabelle Lim (F) Singapore, Wei Ming Lin “Sonny”, Chinese Taipei, Francesco Cammisa, Hong Kong China, Tetsuya Hirakawa Japan.
Referee management team:
- Dilroy Fernando, Referee Manager, Asia Rugby.
- Taku Otsuki, Performance Reviewer, Japan.
- Matt Rodden, Performance Reviewer, Hong Kong China.
- Just Wang, TMO Singapore.
Benjamin van Rooyen, CEO of Asia Rugby:
“Our referees are at the heart of the game’s integrity, and their professionalism ensures the highest quality of competition. Asia Rugby remains committed to building sustainable pathways for match officials across the continent, aligning with our wider vision of transparency, inclusivity, and growth. The panels announced for China are a testament to the strength of our officiating community.”
Rizwan Malik, Vice President and Chairperson of the Asia Rugby Match Officials Committee:
“These appointments reflect the continued growth and investment in Asia Rugby’s match officials’ pathway. By providing our referees with exposure at high-profile tournaments such as the Emirates Sevens, we are not only elevating standards but also preparing them for future opportunities at the global stage. Our officials are ambassadors of the game, and I am proud of the progress they are making.”
Dilroy Fernando, Referee Manager Asia Rugby:
“Both Hohhot and Hangzhou will showcase not only world-class rugby talent but also the very best of Asia’s refereeing pathway. These officials represent the strength, diversity, and professionalism of our region, and their performance will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the Emirates Sevens.”
