Asia Rugby has announced the Emirates Match Officials for the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy – West & Central 2026, taking place at Ayla Oasis in Aqaba, Jordan, on 6–7 November.
Eleven referees representing eight Member Unions have been appointed, reflecting Asia Rugby’s commitment to developing officiating talent across the region.
The panel includes emerging referees from Iraq, India, Nepal and Pakistan, who will have the opportunity to gain international experience and strengthen their skills.
Jordan will host an Asia Rugby sevens tournament for the first time, welcoming nine men’s teams and five women’s teams.
The winners of each competition will earn promotion to the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2027.
Supporting Referee Development: Developing match officials is an important part of Asia Rugby’s efforts to strengthen the game across the region. The Trophy provides an opportunity for emerging referees to officiate international matches, work alongside experienced colleagues and develop their decision-making and match management skills.
Dilroy Fernando will lead the panel as Referee Manager, supported by Sri Lanka’s Anil Jayasinghe as Performance Reviewer. Together, they will provide guidance and performance feedback to help officials identify areas for improvement and prepare for future appointments.
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The experience gained during the tournament will also benefit domestic rugby, as referees return to their Member Unions with knowledge and practical experience that can contribute to local officiating standards.
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said:
“Growing rugby across Asia requires investment in our match officials alongside our players, coaches and competitions. We are particularly pleased to see referees from Iraq, India, Nepal and Pakistan receiving opportunities to officiate at international level. These experiences are essential to building a stronger pool of match officials across Asia and creating pathways for future appointments. We thank Emirates for its continued support of match officials and their development.”
A Structured Selection and Approval Process
Asia Rugby’s established appointment framework places responsibility for selection and appointment recommendations with the Match Officials Selection and Appointments Panel (SAP), with ratification by the Asia Rugby Referees Committee and Chief Executive Officer.
Appointments are based on eligibility, qualifications, experience, fitness and conduct, while recognising the importance of providing development opportunities for emerging referees.
Asia Rugby Referees Committee Chair Rizwan Malik said:
“Our responsibility is to ensure that match officials are selected through a fair and consistent process, based on their readiness and ability to perform at the required level. At the same time, we must continue identifying and developing emerging referees from across our Member Unions.
The Emirates Sevens Trophy provides an important opportunity to assess their performances in an international environment and support their progression through Asia Rugby’s refereeing pathway.”
Emirates Match Officials Panel
Referee Member Union
- Taha Mahmoud Shehab Iraq
- Yusaku Murata Japan
- Lorence Ishuga UAE
- Aymen Jriji Saudi Arabia
- Raveen Alexander Sri Lanka
- Jack Taylor UAE
- Harshal Shrimant Dolas India
- Muhammad Ghalib Javed Pakistan
- Prem Bahadur Koirala Nepal
- Pankajkumar Avdeshkumar Singh India
- Muhammad Manan Naseem Pakistan
Referee Manager: Dilroy Fernando, Asia Rugby
Performance Reviewer: Anil Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka
Watch Live and Follow the Action
All matches will be streamed live on Asia Rugby’s official YouTube channel and Facebook Live.
Follow Asia Rugby’s social media platforms for tournament updates, results and highlights, and Jordan Rugby on Instagram for news from the host union.
