Leading Rugby Referee Raveen Alexander is set to depart for Malaysia today, 10th July, to officiate in the prestigious “Borneo Rugby 7’s 2026”. The tournament is scheduled to take place from 11th to 12th April at the Eagles Rugby Club Stadium in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.
Alexander’s selection follows a meticulous vetting process by the organizers, who closely monitored the accreditation of referees for this elite event. The selection committee placed a strong emphasis on analyzing the accuracy of match officiating and the game management capacity of prospective candidates. Consequently, this appointment is viewed as a significant testament to the quality of referees emerging from Sri Lanka, reflecting the current committee’s commitment to continuously uplifting local standards.
Raveen Alexander ranks among the top referees in the country under the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) Referee Performance Pathway Programme. This program is led by S.W. Chang with the patronage of the current SLR President, Pavithra Fernando. The trajectory of Alexander’s career highlights the success of the structural support provided by the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR). Under the direction of former SLSRFR President, Mr. Dinka Piris, a referees upgrading program was initiated. This effort has been carried forward seamlessly by the current President, Mr. Sanjaya Fernando, and his team. Their collective dedication has immensely helped local referees bloom on the global arena, providing them with the platform to showcase their talent internationally.
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Alexander’s skills, commitment, and passion for the game culminated in his selection to the Asia Rugby Talent Identification (TID) match officiating panel a few years ago. This panel focuses on scouting and nurturing emerging referees within the Asian region, marking Alexander as a prospect to watch.
Raveen Alexander is a proud product of Vidyartha College, Kandy, where he captained the Tigers in 2016. Following the conclusion of his schooling career, he took up the challenge of blowing the whistle. Within a remarkably short period, he ascended to the pinnacle of local refereeing, officiating elite-level matches at both the school and club levels. Despite being involved in domestic rugby, Alexander possesses significant international experience by officiating in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Oman and Nepal.
Adding to the Sri Lankan presence at the tournament is Mr. Dilroy Fernando, an Isipathanian and the Asia Rugby Match Official Manager. Regarded by many as the best referee the country has ever produced, Dilroy Fernando will feature in the capacity of Referee Manager. He is a committed figure in the local rugby fraternity, providing unwavering support not only to uplift the standard of match officiating but also to escalate the overall game to greater heights.
As Raveen Alexander and Dilroy Fernando depart today, they carry with them the hopes of the local rugby community, serving as an inspiration for the next generation of match officials in Sri Lanka.
ThePapare team wishes you all the very best, young Sri Lankan Referee, to excel in Japan and to keep the Lion flag flying high!
#SriLankaRugby #RefereeExcellence #BorneoSevens #RugbyOfficials #LionFlag
