Asia Rugby Creates New Advisory Committee

Asia Rugby has announced a new Advisory Committee, while Edwin Kung is appointed as the Regional Association’s Legal Counsel while.

Asia Rugby President, Qais Al Dhalai, said the new Advisory Committee members will design and develop the terms of reference of the committee. The group is said to be ‘compromising highly talented individuals’ and have expertise in “academia, sport management, the Olympic movement, athletes development and administration excellence.”

Al Dhalai added on the Asia Rugby website: “The Advisory Committee will provide an important forum to identify a wide range of issues around sport and management, consequently offering wise advice to the Executive Committee together with proper knowledge and opportunities.“

Asia Rugby Advisory Committee

Professor Zu’bi Al-Zu’bi  – Chairperson:  Hailing from Jordan, Al Zubi has more than 20 years of experience consulting, corporate and academic experience in sports federations and clubs, higher education institutes and private corporations. He has worked with governments and corporates on strategy, market research studies, branding, competitive analysis, supply chain management, logistics and project management.

Dr Trisha Leahy: With a PhD in Psychology, aJD (Law) Law, SBS, and BBS and current Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), Dr, Leahy also has experience working with the Australian Institute of Sport. With international recognition in‎ strategy, best-practice governance, stakeholder engagement and elite sport development, she is also a published academic and keynote speaker.

Lieutenant ColonelKulthon Prachuabmoh: The current Thailand Rugby Union President previously played for the Thai national rugby team and has also coached the Thailand Rugby Sevens Men’s team – winning bronze at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

Image Credit: Asia Rugby

Asia Rugby Gender Equity Committee

We previously reported on Asia Rugby’s approval of its Executive Committee’s (EXCO) recommendation to change ‘Women’s Advisory Committee, to the “Gender Equity Committee”.

the regional governing body added that this committee now includes both genders, while some of the previously assigned female ‘observers’ have been given full membership status with complete voting rights on other committees.

Appointments of women in key committees have led to an overall 33% female representation, moving ever closer to the Asia Rugby target of 40% to be achieved by 2024 it was reported on Asia Rugby’s website.

Image Credit: Asia Rugby

Asia Rugby Athletes Committee

Michael Leitch, the former captain and current player of the Japan national XVs team was also appointed the first-ever Asia Rugby Players Ambassador in late 2021 and the chairperson of the newly formed ‘Asia Rugby Athletes Committee’.

Based on nominations from Asia Rugby Federations, the rest of the committee has now been filled:

• Chairperson – Michael Leitch (Japan)
• First Deputy – Rozliana Mohd Ridwan (Malaysia)
• Second Deputy – Andre Jin  (Korea)
• Member – Kashif Khawaja (Pakistan)
• Member – Sol Mokdad (Lebanon)
• Member – Butsaya Bunrak (Thailand)
• Member – Karina Sazontova (Kazakhstan)

You can see the other Committees here.

Asia Rugby News

• Changes to Asian Rugby Union Coaches.
• Interview with FIT Incorporated Board Director Topy Xu.
• Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 Dates and Qualification Pathways Announced.
• Asia Rugby Sevens Men’s Trophy 2021: Phuket (played in 2022)