Asia Rugby Executive Committee Highlights Progress, Growth and Unity at Q1 2026 Meeting

Asia Rugby Strengthens Stability as CEO Continues Leadership Journey

Governance reform backed by Member Unions
Record participation in development programmes
Women’s leadership and officiating pathways expand.
Brand evolution and partnerships are driving growth.

Asia Rugby’s Executive Committee convened its first quarterly meeting of 2026, chaired by President Qais Al Dhalai. The Committee reaffirmed its collective commitment to the ongoing reform roadmap, recognising the strong progress achieved to date.

The meeting reflected a strong sense of unity and stability across the organisation, with the Executive Committee collectively supporting the continuation of CEO Benjamin van Rooyen’s leadership, reinforcing confidence in Asia Rugby’s strategic direction and ongoing transformation journey.

The Committee reviewed the continued progress of the reform roadmap, noting strong engagement from Member Unions and the successful advancement of key governance measures. A significant milestone was achieved, with 25 Council members formally approving recent resolutions, demonstrating widespread confidence in Asia Rugby’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and best-practice governance.

Across the region, rugby continues to grow at an encouraging pace, with positive developments in South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, and East Asia. Emerging unions are showing renewed activity and structural progress, alongside new membership applications. It is also encouraging to see new and revitalised cross-border tournaments and activities enhancing regional collaboration.

Commercial & Brand Development

Asia Rugby’s Commercial Partner HOYA presented a comprehensive update on the organisation’s brand evolution, unveiling a refreshed visual identity including a new suite of logos and brand assets designed to reflect the dynamism, diversity, and future ambition of rugby in Asia.

The Executive Committee welcomed the proposed brand direction, with management tasked with further refining and implementing a strategic launch plan in the coming period to ensure strong visibility and engagement across all stakeholders.

The Committee was also updated on ongoing sponsorship and partnership discussions, with several opportunities in development to strengthen Asia Rugby’s commercial sustainability and support long-term growth initiatives across competitions and development programmes.

Competitions & Risk Management

The Executive Committee reviewed key updates on the Asia Rugby Emirates Competitions Calendar 2026, with preparations progressing across major regional tournaments.

Highlights included planning updates for the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship, alongside preparations for the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship and the rollout of new competition properties such as the Emirates 7’s Asia Rugby Clubs Cup, inspired by UUDS AERO.

In parallel, the Committee held detailed discussions on risk management and operational planning, ensuring that competitions are delivered with strong governance, financial oversight, and operational resilience. This includes ongoing assessment of risks, delivery timelines, and stakeholder coordination to ensure successful execution across all events.

Development, Education & Inclusion

In the area of development and education, Asia Rugby continues to lead globally. A recent World Rugby online seminar on unlocking funding attracted 46 participants from 27 Member Unions, the highest participation across all six World Rugby regions, demonstrating strong engagement across the continent.
Women’s rugby and leadership development remain a key priority. The Committee welcomed the selection of 25 women from across Asia into World Rugby’s leadership programme, alongside continued investment in female match officials and technical pathways.

The growth of match officials was also highlighted, with expanded structures including an Elite Panel of 22 officials, a Talent Identification (TID) Panel of 14, and a Development Panel of 13, creating increased opportunities across both established and emerging unions.

The Executive Committee also reviewed the continued success of the Try Together Program (TTP), supported by Emirates, which has delivered strong impact across participating Member Unions through targeted development initiatives. With an initial investment of USD 60,000, the programme has enabled unions to expand grassroots participation, strengthen operational structures, and deliver sustainable growth outcomes.

Building on this success, the Executive Committee approved an increase in investment to USD 80,000, expanding the number of supported unions from 6 to 8, further reinforcing Asia Rugby’s commitment to inclusive growth and long-term development across the region.

The Executive Committee welcomed the establishment of the Central and South Asia Alliance (CASA), uniting Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan under a shared vision to grow rugby across the region.

Asia Rugby previously expressed its full support for the initiative, similar to its support of the South East Asia Rugby Federation (SEARF), recognising its role in strengthening regional collaboration, creating pathways, and driving the continued growth of the game in Asia

Sustainability & Global Engagement

Sustainability continues to be integrated into Asia Rugby’s strategic agenda through initiatives such as A Try, A Tree, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact.

The Executive Committee also noted the strengthening relationship with World Rugby, following high-level engagement with the World Rugby Chairman and CEO in Dubai, which marked an important step forward in alignment, cooperation, and shared strategic objectives. The president appreciated World Rugby’s recent support and looks forward to positive outcomes for the regions and their members.

Quotes

President Qais Al Dhalai said:

“Asia Rugby continues to move forward with unity, purpose, and confidence. The progress achieved across governance, development, and regional growth reflects the collective strength of our Member Unions. Together, we are building a stronger and more inclusive future for rugby in Asia.”

Deputy President Terence Khoo added:

“The level of engagement and support from our unions is extremely encouraging. From governance reforms to competitions and development programmes, we are seeing real momentum that will strengthen the game across all regions of Asia.”

CEO van Rooyen commented:

“I am grateful for the continued trust and support from the President, the Executive Committee and our Member Unions. We remain fully committed to delivering on our reform roadmap and ensuring Asia Rugby operates with the highest standards of governance, transparency, and impact.”

Looking ahead, Asia Rugby remains focused on delivering its ambitious plans for 2026 and beyond, including enhanced competitions, increased investment in Member Unions through programmes such as Try Together, and the rollout of its refreshed brand identity.