Three Hong Kong Referees Named to Asian Games Rugby Sevens Panel

Hong Kong referees Gabriel Lee Wing Yi, Dewi Rowlands and Tim Baker have been named to the Asian Rugby Football Union’s panel of referees for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea at the end of the month.

Lee earns her second Asian Games appointment, while Rowlands and Baker, Senior Referee Development Officer at the HKRFU will be making their Asian Games debut in Incheon.

HKRFU National Referee Development Manager Hugh Watkins, said, “I’m delighted to have three of our referees selected for the Asian Games. These appointments are the pinnacle as far as Hong Kong referees are concerned.”

Lee was also excited about her second appointment for the games saying, “I am the only female selected by ARFU to be on the panel, so I’m very proud of that. Hopefully I can maintain my standard and keep going on to the Olympics in 2016.”

Gabriel Lee Wing Yi, one of Asia's best rugby referees.

Lee refereed the women’s final in Guangzhou in 2010 and is hopeful of being named to another final in Korea. Lee has also been nominated to IRB panels previously including at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 and 2009, (being selected to referee the women’s final in the latter event).

Watkins commended her on her continued high performance saying, “Gabby has set the standard for Hong Kong referees as far as the World Sevens Series goes. She is well known on that circuit and it is a great honour for Tim and Dewi to be following her.”

For his part Baker sees a great opportunity for the Hong Kong panel members in Incheon. “It is going to be an amazing opportunity for my personal development and for getting Hong Kong referees out there. I’ve spent 12 years back in New Zealand working at my craft so it is great to be named to the panel for the Asian Games. It is always a great honour to be named to an ARFU panel and hopefully the Games will be a stepping stone for Dewi and I to move on to IRB level. Having three of our referees selected means that the standard of reffing is getting higher in Hong Kong. Hopefully this will be an occasion that puts Hong Kong referees right up there with the best in Asia. I have done one ARFU tournament here in Hong Kong. It was my first event so judging from that the standard is improving, but there is a long way to go to reach highest level. We are heading in the right direction but it is up to us as referees now to perform,” he said.

Rowlands, one of Hong Kong and Asia’s most experienced referees echoed the comments of his compatriots saying, “I am really pleased to be selected. I am looking forward to going out there and enjoying ourselves as a team on what I am sure will be a spectacular occasion ... The Asian Games is a huge, Olympic style event. I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere and having a good team performance for our Hong Kong referees,” Rowlands added.

Watkins is proud of his charges and looking forward to a strong performance from Hong Kong referees both at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon and around the pitches of Hong Kong this season.

“As far as Asian rugby is concerned it is the pinnacle of their careers to date to be selected for the Asian Games. This is a massive honour for the HKRFU and the Hong Kong Society of Rugby Football Union Referees. I wish them all the best and really hope that they put Hong Kong referees on the map with their performance,” said Watkins.