Asia Rugby Announces Emirates Match Officials for Sri Lanka v Malaysia Playoff

Asia Rugby has confirmed the Emirates match officials for the upcoming Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Playoff 2025 between Sri Lanka and Malaysia, taking place on Saturday, 19 April 2025, at Racecourse Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This decisive fixture will determine which team secures a spot in the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 — and keep their dream alive for qualification to the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The match is expected to deliver a thrilling contest and will be overseen by a highly experienced and regionally representative team of match officials.

The following match officials have been carefully selected by Asia Rugby’s Selections and Appointments Panel and ratified by both the Asia Rugby Referees Committee and the Asia Rugby Chief Executive Officer, underscoring the integrity, neutrality, and excellence of Asia Rugby’s officiating programme.

Match Details

Fixture: Sri Lanka v Malaysia
Date: Saturday, 19 April 2025
KO time: 4:00 PM (+5:30 GMT)
Venue: Racecourse Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Competition: Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Playoff 2025

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Jaco De Wit from the United Arab Emirates will take charge as the Referee, bringing his vast experience from previous regional and international fixtures. He will be supported by two Assistant Referees: J.P. Clement, also from the UAE, and Aymen Jriji from Saudi Arabia, who makes history as the first Saudi Arabian official appointed to an Asia Rugby 15-a-side international fixture.

The role of Television Match Official (TMO) will be fulfilled by Simon Dodds of the UAE, whose expertise in video review will be crucial in ensuring accuracy and fairness throughout the contest.

Performance Review and Oversight

Dilroy Fernando (Asia Rugby Referees Manager)

Peter Hudson (Asia Rugby)

Tournament Director: Ghaith Jalajel (Asia Rugby Competitions Manager)

Asia Rugby stalwart Dilroy Fernando will oversee the entire team of officials, supported by Peter Hudson, with Ghaith Jalajel acting as Tournament Director for the playoff in Colombo.

“Asia Rugby’s match officials continue to set the benchmark in regional and cross-border consistency, and this playoff will be overseen by a diverse and experienced team of referees. Their appointments reflect our values of neutrality, excellence, and opportunity for growth within the Asia Rugby community.

I am especially encouraged to see the appointment of the first Saudi Arabian match official to Asia Rugby’s roster — a proud moment and a clear sign of the progress being made through our development pathways and collaborative efforts with member unions to grow the game across all corners of Asia.”
— Qais Al Dhalai, President, Asia Rugby

RWC 2027 Qualification Pathway

This playoff is not only a gateway to the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 — it also plays a role in the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification pathway. The winner of Sri Lanka v Malaysia will move one step closer to earning Asia’s spot at RWC 2027 in Australia, making this a must-win encounter in Asia’s rugby calendar.

Broadcast and Coverage

Fans can follow full coverage of this historic encounter across Asia Rugby’s official social media channels and watch the match live on Asia Rugby’s digital platforms, including the Asia Rugby Network and RugbyPass.tv.

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