Asia Rugby Announces 2025 Emirates Match Officials Panels: Sri Lankan Referees Shine
Asia Rugby has announced its Emirates Match Officials Panels for the year 2025, and we are delighted to share that a couple of Sri Lankan rugby referees have been included—bringing pride to the rugby-crazy island nation.
The selections were made across three categories: the Elite Panel, Talent Identification (TID) Panel, and Television Match Officials (TMO) Panel. The majority of the panel members hail from Japan, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Singapore.
The Elite Panel features the region’s top referees, selected for their outstanding performance and expertise. Former Nugawela Central rugby player and leading Sri Lankan referee Ishanka Abeykoon has once again made the nation proud by securing his place on the Elite Panel of Asia Rugby for another year. Although still young, Ishanka brings over a decade of refereeing experience and is renowned for making accurate decisions even in high-pressure, nail-biting matches.
The Talent Identification Panel (TID) focuses on scouting and nurturing emerging referees within the Asian region. Old Vidyarthian Raveen Alexander has retained his position on this panel for yet another year. Raveen is one of the island’s most reliable match officials, frequently trusted with officiating crucial games, including those in the recently concluded Inter-Club Rugby League and Knockout Tournaments.
However, a few Sri Lankan referees who were part of the TID panel last year were unfortunate not to be selected for this year’s panel.
The Television Match Officials (TMO) Panel, responsible for ensuring accurate decisions through video technology, does not include any representation from Sri Lanka this year.
Asia Rugby Vice President and Chairperson of the Referees Committee, Mr. Rizwan Malik (Pakistan), stated:
“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. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those selected and wish them the very best of luck for what promises to be an exciting and action-packed season ahead.”
Asia Rugby Match Officials Manager, and Sri Lanka’s most experienced former referee, Mr. Dilroy Fernando, commented on the selections:
“Asia Rugby remains committed to enhancing the quality and consistency of officiating across all levels of the game. The 2025 panels reflect a diverse group of talented individuals prepared to uphold the highest standards of officiating throughout the continent.
Asia Rugby Elite Panel – 2025
- Hibiki Ikeda (F) (Japan)
- Sunny Lee Chui (F) (Hong Kong China)
- Christabelle Lim (F) (Singapore)
- Ibuki Tetsuka (M) (Japan)
- Qu Shanggang (M) (China)
- Lin Wei Ming Sonny Lin (M) (Chinese Taipei)
- Tetsuya Hirakawa (M) (Japan)
- Leow Wei Liang (M) (Singapore)
- Craig Chan (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Francesco Cammisa (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Ishanka Abeykoon (M) (Sri Lanka)
- Top Dechdanai (M) (Thailand)
- Aymen Jrichi (M) (Saudi Arabia)
- Morgan White (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Ano Kuwai (M) (Japan)
- Katsuki Furuse (M) (Japan)
- J.P. Clement (M) (United Arab Emirates)
- Jaco De Wit (M) (United Arab Emirates)
- James Fairbourn (M) (United Arab Emirates)
- Koki Yamamuchi (M) (Japan)
- Takehito Namekawa (M) (Japan)
- Wang Zheng Just (M) (Singapore)
- Shane Barr (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Matthew Rodden (M) (Hong Kong China)
Asia Rugby Talent Identification Panel (TID) – 2025
- Mohamed Adeeb Bin Afendy (M) (Malaysia)
- Miku Tashiro (F) (Japan)
- Niu Yuru (F) (China)
- Priya Baisla (F) (India)
- Ivy Kwong (F) (Hong Kong China)
- Lorence Ishuga (M) (Korea)
- Rikito Nobuhara (M) (Japan)
- Thomas Ngan Chun (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Teruki Inanishi (M) (Japan)
- Alice Chenzhuo (F) (China)
- Raveen Alexander (M) (Sri Lanka)
- Adeline Chew (F) (Singapore)
Asia Rugby TMO Panel – 2025
- Tasuku Kawahara (M) (Japan)
- Simon Dodds (M) (United Arab Emirates)
- Taku Otsuki (M) (Japan)
- Tony Duminy (M) (United Arab Emirates)
- Shane Barr (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Matthew Rodden (M) (Hong Kong China)
- Wang Zheng Just (M) (Singapore)
M – Male F – Female
