Asia Rugby Emirates Match Official Appointments for the 2025 Emirates Men’s Championship
Elite Officials from Across the Region to Oversee Crucial Men’s Rugby World Cup Qualifying Matches

Asia Rugby has officially unveiled the panel of match officials for the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025, a critical tournament on the road to the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Taking place from 13 June to 5 July, the Championship will feature six test matches across Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dubai (UAE), Incheon (Korea), and Hong Kong SAR, with top regional referees and assistant referees at the helm.

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This year’s appointments highlight the collaborative strength of Asia’s officiating ecosystem, featuring experienced referees from the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF), Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR), Korea Rugby Union (KRU), and Thailand Rugby Union (TRU).

Match Official Appointments by Fixture

13 June – Colombo: SLR v KOR

Referee: J.P. Clement (UAERF)

Assistant Referees: Jaco de Witt (UAERF) , Jriji Aymen (SARF)

TMO: Tony Duminy (UAERF)

Performance Reviewer: Shane Barr

14 June – Dubai: UAE v HKG

Referee: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)

Assistant Referees: Takehito Namekawa, Koki Yamauchi (JRFU)

TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)

Performance Reviewer: Simon Dodd

21 June – Incheon: KOR v UAE

Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)

Assistant Referees: Craig Chan, Francesco Cammisa (HKCR)

TMO: Shane Barr (HKCR)

Performance Reviewer: Peter Hudson

22 June – Hong Kong China: HKG v SLR

Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)

Assistant Referees: Ibuki Tetsuka (JRFU), Top Dechdanai (TRU)

TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)

Performance Reviewer: Simon Dodd

4 July – Colombo: SLR v UAE

Referee: Craig Chan (HKCR)

Assistant Referees: Matt Rodden, Sunny Lee (HKCR)

TMO: Simon Dodd (UAERF)

Performance Reviewers: Dilroy Fernando, Dewi Rowlands

5 July – Incheon: KOR v HKG

Referee: Ibuki Tetsuka (JRFU)

Assistant Referees: Koki Yamauchi, Tetsuya Hirakawa (JRFU)

TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)

Performance Reviewers: Peter Hudson, Tasuku Kawahara

All match officials have been appointed by Asia Rugby’s Selections and Appointments Panel and ratified by the Asia Rugby Referees Committee and Asia Rugby CEO.

Commitment to Excellence in Officiating

Tournament Director Ghaith Jalajel, Asia Rugby’s Competitions Manager, will oversee the event, while Referee Manager Dilroy Fernando will supervise all officiating operations during the tournament.

The appointments underscore Asia Rugby’s commitment to developing elite officiating talent and maintaining the highest standards of fairness and professionalism on the pitch. Through consistent investment in referee development and regional collaboration, the Championship serves as both a competitive platform and a training ground for future international match officials.

“The match officials’ appointments for the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 reflect our continued commitment to excellence, neutrality, and the development of refereeing across Asia. Each official has earned their place through merit and performance, and we are confident they will uphold the integrity of the game in this crucial World Cup qualification pathway. This Championship not only showcases the best teams in Asia but also highlights the growth of our officiating talent.”
— Rizwan Malik, Chairperson, Asia Rugby Referees Committee

Watch Live

All six matches will be streamed live and free on the following platforms:

All matches will be broadcast live and free on:
Asia Rugby Facebook | RugbyPass TV | Asia Rugby YouTube

Fans around the world can follow the journey to the Rugby World Cup and witness the best of Asian rugby in action.

Stay connected using #AREMC and #AsiaRugby for behind-the-scenes content and Championship updates.