Asian Five Nations referees
The inaugural Asian Five nations kicked off last weekend when Japan beat Korea in Korea and Hong Kong beat the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates. This weekend the fifth country goes into action when Kazakhstan visits Hong Kong.
The matches with officials are as follows:
Saturday, 26 April
Arabian Gulf vs Hong Kong in Al Ain City, UAE
Referee: Kazuto Taniguchi (Japan)
Touch judges: Dilroy Fernando (Sri Lanka), Aruna Rankothge (Sri Lanka)
Korea vs Japan in Incheon, Korea
Referee: Tom Woolfe (Arabian Gulf)
Touch judges: Anthony (Tobi) Lothian (Hong Kong), George Danapal (Singapore)
Saturday, 3 May
Hong Kong vs Kazakhstan in Hong Kong
Referee: Scott Herbert (Arabian Gulf)
Touch judges: Takashi Harada (Japan), Chou Wan Liang (Chinese Taipei)
Japan vs Arabian Gulf in Osaka, Japan
Referee: Steve Foley (Hong Kong)
Touch judges: Nizam Jamaldeen (Sri Lanka), Mohd Azhar (Singapore)
Friday 9 May
Arabian Gulf vs Korea in Doha, Qatar
Referee: Shinji Aida (Japan)
Touch judges: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan), Pornchai Prachaniyom (Thai)
Saturday, 10 May
Kazakhstan vs Japan in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Referee: Alan Whitcombe (Arabian Gulf)
Touch judges: Tom Woolfe (Arabian Gulf), Shi Yongjin (China)
Saturday, 17 May
Korea vs Kazakhstan in Incheon, Korea
Referee: Anthony (Tobi) Lothian (Hong Kong)
Referee: Steve Foley (Hong Kong), Pornchai Prachaniyom (Thai)
Sunday 18 May
Japan vs Hong Kong in Nigata, Japan
Referee: Grant Bateman (Arabian Gulf)
Touch judges: Dilroy Fernando (Sri Lanka), Abdul Hamid bin Mohd Sauh (Malaysia)
Saturday, 24 May
Kazakhstan vs Arabian Gulf in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Touch judges: Kazuto Taniguchi (Japan), ASO Akihisa (Japan)
Saturday, 24 May
Hong Kong vs Korea in Hong Kong
Referee: Takashi Harada (Japan)
Touch judges: Shinji Aida (Japan), Liu Hao (China)
