On Monday, December 1, 2025, World Rugby informed all Asia Rugby member unions of its decision to suspend the Asia Rugby Executive Committee – Asia Rugby has not publicised this fact anywhere, and few media have picked up on the significance of this.
It’s the latest development in the line of missteps and embarrassments under President Qais Al-Dhalai, who was voted as the Asia Rugby (AR) President at the Council meeting in Bali in November 2019, and again in 2024.
If this were any ordinarily functioning sporting body or corporation, he would have been removed based on the outcome of the combined Ernst & Young Audit and the latest Asia Rugby Oversight Committee (OC) Report findings, which were tasked by World Rugby to help resolve some key issues.
The 46-page document is as damning as the EY audit report released in 2024, which identified 43 matters of concern that Asia Rugby committed to address.
World Rugby has declined to make payments to Asia Rugby since its suspension, but had a single union been as reckless, the punishment would undoubtedly be more severe.
World Rugby, for its part, has taken a painfully slow and soft touch approach to more than 5 years of Asia Rugby not being able to fulfil the most basic financial and governance responsibilities – it’s a slap on the wrist, and instead they said “World Rugby is fully supportive of Asia Rugby.”
In the words of World Rugby Chairman Dr Brett Robinson’s, “This decision followed more than four years of engagement by World Rugby’s management and the EB with Asia Rugby, regarding concerns about financial controls, the establishment of a UAE legal entity, and various governance issues”
On 2 April 2025, the World Rugby executive board (EB) appointed an Oversight Committee. The OC Report addressed four key areas of concern: (the report covers the work of the OC in the months from May 2025 to August 2025):
Financial Controls and Management
Domicile
Governance
Concerns Raised by AR Member Unions
After the release of the Ernst & Young audit and subsequent findings in this report in late 2025, Asia Rugby has basically failed in most departments.
We won’t hold our breath while anyone can give us an example of any leadership anywhere that would have had this many years to not fulfil some of its fundamental financial, governance, and legal responsibilities and still be allowed to continue largely unabated.
The only apparent scapegoat thus far is the interim CEO, Ben Van Rooyen, who is departing his role in 2026. We have heard that several unions under Asia Rugby, as well as some members who serve on its committees, have little confidence that the issues will be resolved within the alleged three-month timeline that has been proposed.
As a result, many Asia Rugby organised tournaments seem to be in limbo, the organisation has still not established its registration in the UAE, or set up bank accounts, and only the core staff are receiving payments. Last we heard, Asia Rugby was in debt of more than half a million US Dollars due to the payment freeze by World Rugby.
What Has Been Decided?
The World Rugby EB decided that “while Asia Rugby will not be suspended from World Rugby membership, its Council Membership will be provisionally suspended until the agreed and necessary reforms are implemented. This measure ensures accountability and prevents further delays in addressing these issues.”
In the OC Report, it added that the OC was not provided access to the wider Asia Rugby dashboard, where AR ExCo and AR Council meeting papers, resolutions, agendas and minutes are stored.
Mr Kensuke Iwabuchi (Japan Rugby Football Union)
Photo Credit – The Japan Times
Mr Kensuke Iwabuchi (Japan Rugby Football Union) has been reinstated to Asia Rugby’s EXCO, having been suspended in error and incorrectly by the Asia Rugby CEO and President. No apology has ever been provided by the Asia Rugby President as requested by the JRFU.
A review by a World Rugby Disciplinary Officer (DDO) in April 2025 concluded that Mr Iwabuchi had not breached any Asia Rugby or World Rugby rules.
What is more concerning is the following excerpts from the OC Report, which stated that the OC concludes that Asia Rugby acted with complete disregard for its own processes in Mr Iwabuchi’s suspension for the following reasons:
Asia Rugby President confirmed that the decision to issue a press release on the suspension of Mr Iwabuchi was made by him together with the Asia Rugby CEO. The AR ExCo was not consulted on this decision.
The “suspension” was unconstitutional.
Asia Rugby’s process was not adhered to.
Mr Iwabuchi continued to be excluded from taking part in the activities of his office, to which he was legitimately elected.
It’s a near-perfect showcase of the toxic and dictatorial manner in which the current Asia Rugby President has ruled, trying to remove those who oppose him, circumvent the rules, and publicly try and portray a righteous persona.
To conclude, a segment from the OC report on this matter and why it has reverberations: “Asia Rugby’s continued exclusion of Mr Iwabuchi without a clear basis poses a threat to the legitimacy of all of its actions and the standing of Asia Rugby’s decision-making bodies within the wider rugby community…..these events have caused disquiet and an erosion of trust amongst member unions”
Financial Audit
Asia Rugby have reported at various times that all 43 findings or that 40 of 43 findings have been addressed from the A&Y Audit, but the OC has not seen any working papers presented to the Council or the Audit & Risk Committee, nor the minutes of any papers.
The OC Report adds that this “followed more than 4 years of engagement by World Rugby’s management and EB with Asia Rugby surrounding its financial controls, establishment of a UAE legal entity and a list of governance concerns.”
By the time the report was issued, it had not been possible to independently verify Asia Rugby’s current position. FOUR YEARS! It’s nearly comical if it wasn’t so serious.
Domicile Issues for Asia Rugby and the UAE
Photo Credit – Asia Rugby
The issue remains unresolved (of having Asia Rugby registered in the UAE), and as such, World Rugby said it is not possible to “make payments to Asia Rugby’s bank account, which is not linked to a corporate entity recognised by World Rugby. Resolution of that issue will allow for regular financial processes to be reinstated.”
This is a hugely critical issue that the president of Asia Rugby is responsible for, as it was his suggestion to shift from Hong Kong to the UAE as far back as 2019 – even the report has now raised the question of whether Asia Rugby operates under a recognised legal personality in the UAE.
As an intermediary to the Unions, World Rugby has approved the payment of outstanding competition funds and match official payments from 2025, directly to the unions (where possible).
The OC Report said: “Until the domicile matter is resolved, the EB have declined to make payments (other than salary payments) to an account relating to an entity that it is unable to recognise. World Rugby have re-engaged with EY to prepare for a follow-up governance and control review; however, this is on hold while the domicile matter remains unresolved.”
Asia Rugby has not been able to satisfy World Rugby that the interests of its member unions are sufficiently protected by the United Arab Emirates operating model selected.
It is not clear if the Asia Rugby Federation has a legal personality in the UAE.
Some fundamental governance concerns flagged by World Rugby on the Hosting Agreement remained unanswered.
Asia Rugby Governance
This is a lengthy and detailed section of the report, but some of the key flaws in which the Asia Rugby leadership operate were highlighted by the points raised. Most notable is the authoritarian and egotistic approach of the Asia Rugby President.
OC has concerns about the invitation process to ensure that all elected members of the AR ExCo are notified of the meetings and able to attend.
Attendees are muted by default in online meetings and are unable to unmute themselves without the assistance of the administrator. The Asia Rugby President may seek views, but does not take formal votes and instead makes declarations based on the fact that he is the Asia Rugby President.
The Asia Rugby President’s prerogative to appoint the chairs to the subcommittees – no constitutional provision or delegated authority for these subcommittees.
As an example of this point above, we have on numerous occasions questioned the appointments in the past seven years, which seem to lack a transparent process.
Image Credit – Asia Rugby
We even heard committee members say that the first time they heard of the appointment in July 2025 of five Regional Advisors to strengthen the sub-regional engagement of the sport was in the press release posted on the Asia Rugby website – no prior consultation. Basically, the AR President appointed those he kept in his inner circle.
This was mentioned in the report, “the appointment process for these regional advisors was not transparent…This panel does not have a reporting line to the AR ExCo, and their roles appear to conflict with the roles of the AR ExCo and Council.”
Finally, “member unions felt that they did not have sufficient visibility of the current financial position of Asia Rugby, nor its future prospects, including sponsorship commitments from Emirates.”
Issues Raised By Asia Rugby Member Unions
There has been, publicly and behind closed doors, a growing resentment and frustration from many member unions with the Asia Rugby President and the way he has led the organisation.
Several unions have written to the World Rugby Chair previously, and the OC gave assurance to all unions that they were speaking in confidence and that their comments would be consolidated into the OC’s final report in an unattributable form.
Many unions stated that they “believed that the issues in Asia Rugby could not be solved by its members, the Asia Rugby ExCo or the Asia Rugby Council.”
Some key highlights include:
“The personal conduct of the Asia Rugby President was variously described as challenging and problematic. He was also described as unapproachable and difficult.”
Member unions described the Asia Rugby President as acting in a personally vindictive manner towards Kensuke Iwabuchi – the way the AR President acted “has fed into the culture of fear amongst member unions, which prevents them from speaking up.”
Governance within Asia Rugby was repeatedly cited as a cause for concern.
They felt that the ongoing domicile matter was of Asia Rugby’s own making and that it needed to be resolved to World Rugby’s satisfaction as a matter of urgency.
Member unions noted that Asia Rugby has expanded from 21 to 36 unions since the election of the current President in 2019. They are not clear about the strategy for growing the region at such a pace, nor the value of adding so many nascent rugby nations, or how funds are being allocated.
“The member unions felt that Asia Rugby did not have a clear strategy for the expansion and advancement of rugby in the region.”
Photo Credit: Asia Rugby EXCO 2024-2028
Do The Maths – Has World Rugby Put Commercial Partnership Investment Ahead of Governance Obligations?
For why World Rugby has not taken a firmer stance, you need to consider also the financial landscape. In this subtext is what we believe is a reason World Rugby is being so lenient. By their words, “World Rugby hosts many events in the UAE and recognises its importance in the region.”
The same week the aforementioned correspondence based on the OC Report was sent to Asia Rugby Members, World Rugby Chairman Dr. Brett Robinson announced a new £125 million, 10-year partnership extension with Emirates, which he has since confirmed was a “record-breaking” deal that runs through 2035 and covers men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, the Sevens series, and match officials.
Emirates is based in the UAE, where Asia Rugby is attempting to have a domicile, and in which the Asia Rugby President is a citizen. The airline also has commercial and partnership agreements with Asia Rugby.
In that case, the UAE President has also never revealed the amount of the deal, but sources have told us an estimated figure. However, it was suggested (unconfirmed) that he brokered a deal using a third party who claimed as much as 30-40 per cent of the agreed partnership amount as part of their commission. It’s never been denied or confirmed that the broker had direct ties to the current Asia Rugby President.
Would World Rugby really jeopardise its biggest-ever commercial deal with Emirates to take a hardline stance with someone connected and living in the same State as the global airline? And would Dr. Brett Robinson rock the ship in his first year in his role? You do the maths.
Photo Credit – World Rugby
Asia Rugby Needs Change, and Your Voices Help
Asia Rugby ironically uses the pillars of Transparency, Inclusivity, Accountability, and Integrity to try and promote the game, but, from a leadership and Presidential point of view, has failed in all of these.
There are great individuals within the Asia Rugby leadership and across the 36 member unions, and there is great potential within the region. We have had to endure 7 years of a President who has tarnished the game, and we are on a path heading into 2026, which may see the region further fractured if he is allowed to remain in his position.
It’s now up to the leadership voices in those member unions, and those who fall under those unions, to place pressure on their representatives to ask for a change.
In the meantime, World Rugby will be supporting Asia Rugby in implementing the Reform Roadmap to address the issues above. The next Asia Rugby quarterly meetings to provide interim updates to World Rugby with a formal report every six months, begin in January 2026.
Asian Rugby News 2026