Asia Rugby has confirmed the Emirates Match Officials appointed for the Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens 2026, taking place in Qingdao, China, on 5–6 September.
China, Hong Kong China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan will compete in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions, while Chinese Taipei will also participate in the boys’ tournament.
The two-day competition will bring together Asia’s leading emerging rugby talent alongside a diverse panel of match officials representing China, Hong Kong China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
The appointments reflect Asia Rugby’s continued commitment to developing the next generation of match officials while providing young players with meaningful international competition.
Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens
Qingdao, China | 5–6 September 2026
Referees
Qu Shenggang, China
Dechdanai Wangyuen (Top), Thailand
Muhammad Aiman Adeeb Bin Afandy, Malaysia
Niu Yuru, China
Ivy Kwong, Hong Kong China
Rikito Nobuhara, Japan
Raveen Alexander, Sri Lanka
Jack Taylor, United Arab Emirates
Shane O’Hehir, Singapore
Zahang Xin, China
Performance Reviewers
Gabriel Lee, Hong Kong China
George Danapal, Singapore
Liu Hao, China
Referee Manager
Dilroy Fernando, Asia Rugby
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said:
“Asia Rugby is proud to announce the Emirates Match Officials appointed for the Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens in Qingdao. This competition is an important part of our player and match-official development pathways. It provides young athletes with the opportunity to represent their countries in international competition while enabling our referees to gain valuable experience in a high-performance environment.
“We thank Emirates for its continued support of rugby development across Asia and wish all participating teams and match officials a successful tournament.”
Asia Rugby Vice President and Match Officials Committee Chairperson Rizwan Malik said:
“These appointments demonstrate the strength and diversity of the match-official pathway across Asia. The panel brings together talented referees supported by experienced performance reviewers who will provide guidance, assessment and development throughout the tournament.
“Competitions such as the Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens are vital in preparing officials for future appointments at senior regional and international levels. We are delighted to provide these opportunities and look forward to seeing the panel perform in Qingdao.”
Asia’s Emerging Talent Heads to Qingdao
The boys’ competition will feature China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
China, Hong Kong China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan will contest the girls’ competition.
Qingdao, located in China’s eastern Shandong province, provides an outstanding setting for the tournament. The port city borders the Yellow Sea and is renowned for its beaches, parks, distinctive architecture and modern skyline.
A New Boys’ Champion to Be Crowned
The 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens in Hohhot produced an outstanding showcase of the region’s emerging rugby talent.
Japan secured the boys’ championship with a 42–5 victory over Hong Kong China in the final, while hosts China claimed the girls’ title after defeating Japan 22–12.
With defending boys’ champions Japan not included in the 2026 field, a new boys’ champion will be crowned in Qingdao. China will return to defend the girls’ title on home soil.
The Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Sevens remains a central part of Asia Rugby’s player and match-official development pathway, providing the region’s emerging athletes and officials with valuable international experience.
Watch Live
Broadcast and digital coverage information will be announced through the Asia Rugby website and official social media channels ahead of the competition.
Live
YouTube | AsiaRugbyTV
