Asia Rugby Announces The Match Officials Panels for 2025

The governing body for the region, Asia Rugby, has announced the Match Officials panels for fixtures in 2025 with the Elite Panel, Talent Identification Panel and TMO Panel members all confirmed.

Chairperson of the Referees Committee and Asia Rugby Vice President, Mr Rizwan Malik, said of the appointment; “The Asia Rugby Referees Committee, in collaboration with the Selection & Appointments Panel (SAP), has worked diligently to identify and appoint the most qualified match officials for the Asia Rugby 2025 Panel.”

Asia Rugby Match officials Manager Dilroy Fernando added, “The 2025 panels reflect a diverse group of talented individuals prepared to uphold the highest standards of officiating throughout the continent.”

Asia Rugby Elite Match Officials Panel – 2025

The Match Official Elite Panel members for 2025 include 7 from the JRFU, 6 from HKCR, 3 from SRU and UAERF, and 1 each from Thailand, Chinese Taipei, China, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia. There are 3 females and 21 males.

1. Hibiki Ikeda (F)  (Japan)
2. Ibuki Tetsuka (M) (Japan)
3. Tetsuya Hirakawa (M) (Japan)
4. Ano Kuwai (M) (Japan)
5. Katsuki Furuse (M) (Japan)
6. Koki Yamamuchi (M) (Japan)
7. Takehito Namekawa (M) (Japan)
8. Sunny Lee Chui (F)  (Hong Kong China)
9. Morgan White (M) (Hong Kong China)
10. Craig Chan (M) (Hong Kong China)
11. Francesco Cammisa (M) (Hong Kong China)
12. Shane Barr (M) (Hong Kong China)
13. Matthew Rodden (M) (Hong Kong China)
14. Christabelle Lim (F)  (Singapore)
15. Leow Wei Liang (M) (Singapore)
16. Wang Zheng Just (M) (Singapore)
17. Qu Shanggang (M) (China)
18. Lin Wei Ming Sonny Lin (M) (Chinese Taipei)
19. Ishanka Abeykoon (M) (Sri Lanka)
20. Top Dechdanai (M) (Thailand)
21. Aymen Jrichi (M) (Saudi Arabia)
22. J.P. Clement (M) (United Arab Emirates)
23. Jaco De Wit (M) (United Arab Emirates)
24. James Fairbourn (M) (United Arab Emirates)

Asia Rugby Talent Identification Panel – Match Officials 2025

Asia Rugby said the appointed Talent Identification Panel “focuses on scouting and nurturing emerging referees across Asia”. The selected members for 2025 represent 3 from JRFU, 2 from China and HKCR, and 1 each from Malaysia, India, Korea, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. There are 6 females and 6 males.

1. Miku Tashiro (F) (Japan)
2. Teruki Inanishi (M) (Japan)
3. Rikito Nobuhara (M) (Japan)
4. Thomas Ngan Chun (M) (Hong Kong China)
5. Ivy Kwong (F) (Hong Kong China)
6. Niu Yuru (F) (China)
7. Alice Chenzhuo (F) (China)
8. Mohamed Adeeb Bin Afendy (M) (Malaysia)
9. Priya Baisla  (F) (India)
10. Lorence Ishuga (M)  (Korea)
11. Raveen Alexander (M) (Sri Lanka)
12. Adeline Chew (F) (Singapore)

Asia Rugby Television Match Officials (TMO) Panel 2025

The Asia Rugby Television Match Officials Panel members for 2025 include 2 each from JRFU, HKCR, and UAERF, and one from Singapore. They are all male.

1. Tasuku Kawahara (M) (Japan)
2. Taku Otsuki (M) (Japan)
3. Simon Dodds (M) (United Arab Emirates)
4. Tony Duminy (M) (United Arab Emirates)
5. Shane Barr (M) (Hong Kong China)
6. Matthew Rodden (M) (Hong Kong China)
7. Wang Zheng Just (M) (Singapore)

Asian Rugby News 2025

• Tyla King – We Need To Continue Supporting Those Smaller Nations To Help Them Grow Around The World Because It’s Good For Our Game.
• Dan Carter – “Team Sports Like Rugby Are Just A Great Life Lesson, And Help You Deal With Those Disappointments And Setbacks”.
• Asia Rugby Releases Partial 2025 15s Rugby International Fixtures Calendar.
• Malaysia and Sri Lanka Men’s XV Set To Play In 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Mens Championship Playoff Match.