Asia Rugby has announced the appointment of 12 referees from seven Member Unions for the second leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026, taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 17–18 October.
Following the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Rugby Sevens and the opening leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, the Colombo tournament continues a significant period of international competition for Asia Rugby’s match officials, providing further opportunities to gain experience at the regional level.
The appointments were made by the Asia Rugby Match Officials Selection and Appointments Panel (SAP) and ratified by the Asia Rugby Referees Committee and Chief Executive Officer, in accordance with the organisation’s selection and approval process.
A total of 72 matches are scheduled across the two-day tournament, with 36 fixtures each day.
Commitment to High Officiating Standards
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai emphasised the importance of investing in match officials alongside the continued growth of rugby across the region.
“The successful delivery of rugby sevens at the Asian Games in Japan, followed by the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, demonstrates the continued progress of rugby across our region. Our match officials are an essential part of that success, and we remain committed to providing opportunities for them to gain international experience and develop their capabilities.
“I am particularly pleased to see the continued involvement of female match officials and the strong representation of our Member Unions. These appointments reflect our commitment to developing the game at every level and maintaining high standards across Asia Rugby competitions.”
Referees Representing Seven Member Unions
The appointed referees represent Japan, Hong Kong China, China, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The group includes three female referees, reflecting Asia Rugby’s commitment to providing opportunities for women in international match officiating.
Appointed Referees
- Hibiki Ikeda – Japan (Female)
- Sunny Lee – Hong Kong China (Female)
- Ibuki Tetsuka – Japan
- Qu Shenggang – China
- Leow Wei Liang – Singapore
- Craig Chan – Hong Kong China
- Koki Yamamuchi – Japan
- Ishanka Abeykoon – Sri Lanka
- Aiman Adeeb – Malaysia
- Niu Yuru – China (Female)
- Thomas Ngan – Hong Kong China
- Lorance Ishuga – United Arab Emirates
Referees Committee Highlights Development Pathways
Rizwan Malik, Asia Rugby Vice President and Chair of the Asia Rugby Referees Committee, highlighted the importance of international appointments in strengthening officiating standards across Member Unions.
“The continued progress of our match officials reflects the strength of rugby development across Asia. Building on the experience gained at the Asian Games and the Emirates Sevens Series, we remain focused on creating opportunities for referees from all Member Unions, particularly women and emerging officials, to develop and succeed at the international level.”
Performance Reviewers and Television Match Officials
The referees will be supported by two performance reviewers and two Television Match Officials (TMOs), providing performance assessment and technical support throughout the competition.
Performance Reviewers
- Shane Barr – Hong Kong China
- Shuhei Kubo – Japan
Television Match Officials
- Matthew Rodden – Hong Kong China
- Christabelle Lim Mee – Singapore (Female)
Match Officials Manager
- Dilroy Fernando – Asia Rugby
Sri Lanka Rugby has also been requested to provide six World Rugby Level 2-qualified assistant referees and six sub-officials to support tournament operations.
Preparation and Performance
Asia Rugby Match Officials Manager Dilroy Fernando highlighted the importance of preparation and consistency across the tournament’s demanding schedule.
“With 72 matches scheduled over two days in Colombo, our focus remains on consistency, preparation and teamwork. The involvement of performance reviewers and TMOs will provide important technical support and development opportunities for our officials.
“We also appreciate the continued cooperation of our Member Unions and Sri Lanka Rugby in supporting the successful delivery of the tournament.”
The Colombo leg will provide another opportunity for Asia Rugby’s match officials to build international experience while contributing to the delivery of high-quality rugby sevens competition across the region.
