Asia Rugby voted in Qais Al Dhalai as World Rugby Council Member at an Extraordinary General Meeting

– Terence Khoo appointed as Asia Rugby Deputy President
– Brand new Asia Rugby Grand League to see lights in quarter one 2024
– Asian Games 2022 (postponed to 2023) will feature the Rugby Sevens event confirmed during the period 24th to 26th September 2022
-Olympic Qualification Tournament to be held as a stand-alone event in 2023

Asia Rugby concluded successfully its End of Year Council Meeting with 35 member unions and over 60 delegates attending virtually.

Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai

With 95% of eligible votes, Asia Rugby voted to appoint President Qais Al Dhalai as World Rugby Council Member at its Extraordinary General Meeting held on 12th December 2022 seeing Al Dhalai taking dual roles as Asia Rugby President together with World Rugby Council Member.

Furthermore, Asia Rugby passed special resolution to create a new position of Deputy President and voted in Mr. Terence Khoo to fill in the new position until the remainder of the current term that runs until the end of year 2024.

Asia Rugby Deputy President Terence Khoo

Council was briefed on the brand new Asia Rugby Grand League, a clubs franchise-oriented competition planned to see lights during quarter one and two in the year 2024. Eight targeted national federations have been identified and will commence constructive collaboration during the first working group meeting scheduled for Friday 3rd February 2023 in Singapore. The concept will be rolled out on phases running from the year 2024 to 2027.

Asia Rugby revamped sevens and fifteen competitions structures have been approved by Council during its mid-year meeting in Kyrgyzstan on 4th July 2022.

Council was briefed on the latest details of Asian Games 2022 including the importance of every national federation to coordinate with its relevant National Olympic Committee to ensure compliance to the below timelines:

– Entry by Sport: 20/2/2023 at 24:00 (Beijing Time, GMT +8)
– Entry by Number: 15/3/2023 at 24:00 (Beijing Time, GMT +8)
– Entry by Name: 15/6/2023 at 24:00 (Beijing Time, GMT +8)

The initial allocated slots for Rugby Sevens are 12 teams men and 12 teams women, however, Asia Rugby is in continuous engagement with the Organizing Committee to increase the slots to 16 teams men and 16 teams women.

Asia Rugby and World Rugby agreed that the Olympic Qualification Tournament should be held as a stand-alone event in 2023. Further ongoing discussion on the format of the tournament and the number of teams to participate,

During the most recent Council meeting, National federations were briefed on the ongoing intensive talks and cooperation between Asia Rugby and World Rugby that have been established and continuing for the foreseeable future to ensure a successful commencement of the revamped competitions from January 2024 onwards.