Asia Rugby has confirmed the match officials for the opening round of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026, which will take place in Suzhou, China, from 29–30 August.
The appointments highlight Asia Rugby’s continued commitment to developing refereeing excellence across the continent, bringing together experienced and emerging officials from China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Twenty-four of Asia’s leading men’s and women’s national teams will compete across the two-day tournament as the region’s premier annual rugby sevens competition returns for its opening round.
Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, Suzhou, China
29–30 August 2026
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Referees / Assistant Referees:
Hibiki Ikeda (F), Japan; Sunny Lee (F), Hong Kong China; Christabelle Lim Mee (F), Singapore; Ibuki Tetsuka, Japan; Qu Shenggang, China; Wei Ming Lin (Sonny), Chinese Taipei; Leow Wei Liang, Singapore; Craig Chan, Hong Kong China; Morgan White, Hong Kong China; Koki Yamamuchi, Japan; Dechdanai Wangyuen (Top), Thailand; and Aymen Jriji, Saudi Arabia.Ishanka Abeykoon, Sri Lanka; Aymen Jriji, Saudi Arabia; James Fairbourn, United Arab Emirates; Joanna Bezuidenhout (F), Qatar; Niu Yuru (F), China; Thomas Ngan Chun, Hong Kong China; and Adeline Chew (F), Singapore.
Referee management team:
Dilroy Fernando, Referee Manager, Asia Rugby
Performance Reviewer and Television Match Official
Shane Barr, Hong Kong China
Matthew Rodden, Hong Kong China
Taku Otsuki, Japan
Shuhei Kubo, Japan
Television Match Official
Wang Zheng (Just), Singapore
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said:
“Our match officials are central to the integrity, quality and success of every Asia Rugby competition. These appointments reflect the strength and diversity of our refereeing community and our continued commitment to creating meaningful high-performance opportunities across Asia.
“The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series brings together the region’s leading teams, and we are confident that this talented group of officials will uphold the highest standards throughout the opening round in Suzhou.”
Rizwan Malik, Vice President of Asia Rugby and Chairperson of the Asia Rugby Match Officials Committee, said:
“These appointments reflect the continued progress of Asia Rugby’s match officials pathway. Opportunities to officiate at high-level competitions such as the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series allow our officials to gain valuable experience, improve their performance and prepare for future regional and international appointments.
“We are pleased to see match officials from across our Member Unions represented in Suzhou and remain committed to supporting their continued development and progress.”
Dilroy Fernando, Asia Rugby Referee Manager, said:
“The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series provides an outstanding high-performance environment for our match officials. Rugby sevens demands exceptional fitness, communication, teamwork and decision-making, and the panel selected for Suzhou brings together a strong combination of experience and emerging talent.
“These officials represent the professionalism and growing strength of refereeing across Asia. We look forward to supporting them throughout the tournament and ensuring the highest possible officiating standards.”
The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series will conclude in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 17–18 October, where the 2026 men’s and women’s champions will be crowned.
Every match from Suzhou will be broadcast live worldwide on RugbyPass TV, subject to territory availability. Asia Rugby will also provide comprehensive coverage across its official digital and social media platforms
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