Asia Rugby Appoints Five Regional Advisors For Sub-Regional Engagement

Asia Rugby has announced the appointment of five Regional Advisors to strengthen the sub-regional engagement of the sport, and all of the advisors will report to the Asia Rugby President. Qais Al Dhalai.

The move comes as part of the regional governing body’s organisation’s “strategic effort to deepen engagement with its member unions and enhance the implementation of rugby development initiatives across Asia’s five sub-regions.”

The Regional Advisors will serve as “strategic liaisons between the Asia Rugby President and national unions”, to support regional growth, promote development programmes, and advance cross-border rugby competitions.

• West Asia – Mr. Rabie Al Masri (Palestine Rugby President)
• South East Asia – Mr. Amir Amri (Malaysia Rugby President)
• Central Asia – Mr. Nurlan Balbarakov (Head of International Relations of Kazakhstan Rugby)
• East Asia – Mr. Donald Shaw (Macau – part of the Macau Bats Rugby Club)
• South Asia – Mr. Nalin De Silva (President of Sri Lanka Rugby)

Asia Rugby President Mr. Qais Al Dhalai said, “This is a defining step in our efforts to localise our governance model while remaining united under the Asia Rugby umbrella. These Advisors bring deep insight, trusted relationships, and a passion for our game.

The introduction of these roles aligns with Asia Rugby’s upcoming 2025–2028 strategic plan and is anticipated to significantly strengthen regional communication and strategic coordination, and the delivery of high-impact rugby initiatives across the continent. I am confident they will strengthen our presence and responsiveness in each sub-region.”

What Is The Backdrop To Asia Rugby Governance Issues

For those not familiar with what has been going on, the Asia Rugby President and the leadership group have been under some pressure to get the house in order following a scathing World Rugby E&Y audit carried out in 2024, and there appears to be growing discontent. This also comes after the embarrassing debacle with Asia Rugby wrongly suspending Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi from the Asia Rugby Executive Committee, and World Rugby calling it baseless.

World Rugby and the JRFU called for an apology from the Asia Rugby president, Qais Al-Dhalai (which has never been made publically).

At the start of June 2025, World Rugby decided to appoint an independent Oversight Committee to ensure oversight of the operations and governance processes of Asia Rugby and, where necessary, improve those operations and processes.

It would be cynical to assume the appointments are there to support the President’s agendas, but let’s hope that real development are change are their main priorities.

Rugby Development News

• Asia Rugby Launches Try Together Development Program With Six Unions.
• ChildFund Rugby Ambassador Lexi Chambers – Race To Rugby World Cup 2025.
• Southeast Asia Rugby Federation Formed.
• JRLO, JRFU and JICA Have Signed a Year Co-Operation Agreement.