Asia Rugby has confirmed its match officials panel for the Asia Rugby Emirates Championships 2026, assembling one of the most experienced and diverse officiating groups in the competition’s history as the regional calendar expands in both scale and ambition.
With the Women’s Championship in Kazakhstan and the Men’s Championship spanning four nations, the appointments underline a clear message. Asia Rugby is not only raising the bar for its competitions but also investing heavily in the people who ensure the game is played with integrity.
The 2026 season opens in Almaty, where Japan, Hong Kong China and Kazakhstan will contest the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship from 28 April to 10 May. It is a tournament that continues to grow in stature and intensity, matched by a carefully selected officiating team tasked with managing high-performance rugby in demanding conditions.
Attention then shifts to the flagship Men’s Championship, a round-robin contest played across Hong Kong China, United Arab Emirates, Korea and Sri Lanka from 23 May to 14 June.
Behind the scenes, the selections were driven by the Asia Rugby Match Officials Selection and Appointments Panel, working closely with the Match Officials Committee. The process balanced performance, combinations, and development pathways, ensuring both continuity and opportunity across the officiating group.
Tournament operations will be led by Ghaith Jalajel, with experienced Referee Manager Dilroy Fernando overseeing officiating standards throughout the competitions.
A growing game demands more from its officials
The expansion of Asia Rugby’s competition portfolio in 2026 has placed increased emphasis on officiating depth. More matches, more travel, and higher stakes demand not just numbers, but quality and cohesion within officiating teams.
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai was clear in recognising both the challenge and the support behind it:
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Emirates for their continued support of our match officials, whose role is fundamental to the integrity and success of our competitions. With the expansion of our tournament calendar in 2026, including new competitions and increased match activity, the demand for high-quality match officials has never been greater. Asia Rugby remains fully committed to investing in the development of our referees and officials, ensuring they are well prepared to meet the growing needs of the game across our region.”
It is a sentiment echoed across the officiating pathway, where development remains as critical as performance.
Rizwan Malik, Chairperson of the Asia Rugby Referees Committee, reinforced the importance of merit-based selection:
“Each official has earned their place through performance and consistency. These appointments reflect our commitment to excellence and neutrality, while continuing to build depth across Asia’s refereeing landscape.”
Experience meets opportunity
The appointments bring together a mix of established names and emerging officials, reflecting Asia Rugby’s dual focus on delivering top-level performance while nurturing the next generation.
Across both competitions, match officials will operate in familiar teams where possible, a deliberate approach designed to enhance communication, consistency and decision-making under pressure.
With the Championships serving as both a competitive arena and a development platform, the spotlight will not only be on the teams chasing regional honours, but also on the officials shaping the flow and fairness of the game.
Related Links
Asia Rugby Emirates Competitions Calendar 2026
Asia Rugby and UUDS AERO Launch the Emirates 7’s Asia Rugby Clubs Cup
Women’s Championship Match Officials
Referees
Sunny Lee Chui Yan
Christabelle Lim
Ano Kuwai
Assistant Referees
Matthew Rodden
Leow Wei Liang
Patrick Kwok
Adeline Chew
Joanna Bezuidenhout
TMO
Just Wang
Men’s Championship Match Officials
Referees
Morgan White
James Fairbourn
Francesco Cammisa
Jacobus De Wit
Katsuki Furuse
Assistant Referees
Craig Chan
James Fairbourn
Francesco Cammisa
Ibuki Tetsuya
Stephen Copeman
JP Clements
Sunny Lee Chui Yan
Koki Yamamuchi
Jacobus De Wit
Sam Brown
TMOs
Simon Dodd
Shane Barr
Just Wang Matthew Rodden
All matches from both Championships will be broadcast live on Asia Rugby platforms and RugbyPass TV, ensuring global visibility for the competitions. Fans can also follow live updates, highlights and behind-the-scenes content across Asia Rugby’s social media channels, bringing the action closer to audiences across the region and beyond.
