A bombshell revelation has surfaced regarding Qais Abdallah Al Dhalai, the current Re-Elected Asia Rugby President who aslo secured a seat on World Rugby’s Executive Board. A voice recording circulating online captures Al Dhalai as he arranges a clandestine business meeting with a former Asia Rugby member official, expressly hoping to avoid being seen in public by other members. This startling exposure has heightened international concerns about Al Dhalai’s fitness for elevated governance in rugby, especially given recent KPMG and Ernst & Young audits that reveal significant governance failures and financial mismanagement during his tenure.
Business Dealings in Secret
In the controversial voice recording, Al Dhalai reportedly directs a former Asia Rugby official associate to arrange a secret meeting to discuss a high-stakes business deal involving digital solutions for product packaging for cigarette packets and besides other items and also currency security printing.
In a WhatsApp conversation, Al Dhalai expressed his desire in pursuing the interest shown in expanding digital printing solutions to countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Iran to combat counterfeiting issues. Responding to a detailed proposal, he stated, “I am interested in this business and I like it,” followed by, “I will use my high-profile contacts in the UAE and Asian countries, but I need to first talk through some details.” This exchange suggests his intention to exploit influential connections across the UAE and Asia for personal gain, sparking further controversy around his leadership and candidacy for a role on World Rugby’s Executive Board.
Arrangements for a clandestine meeting followed, pointing to a clear abuse of his position and influence within Asia Rugby, where he wields significant sway over member nations. Allegations of backroom dealings with Asia Rugby members and member countries are particularly alarming for an individual aspiring to ne on the Executive Board of World Rugby, a position meant to embody the sport’s values of transparency and ethical governance.
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A Troubled Tenure: Consolidating Power and Alienating Nations
Since taking office in 2019, Al Dhalai has faced repeated controversies. His election ushered in a tenure marred by frequent conflicts with established rugby nations like Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea while welcoming additional Islamic-majority nations to bolster his support base. Observers claim this strategy aimed to solidify control over Asia Rugby and neutralize opposition from the stronger Asian rugby nations.
One of his first acts was to amend Asia Rugby’s constitution, granting his Executive Committee powers equivalent to the Asia Rugby Council. Soon after, Al Dhalai and his team unilaterally suspended Sri Lanka Rugby, a member nation with a history spanning more than 140 years. This action, reportedly done without Council approval, involved close coordination with the former Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, raising concerns over political interference and Al Dhalai’s willingness to prioritize personal power over fair governance.
Audit Findings: Financial Mismanagement and Governance Gaps
Al Dhalai’s administration at Asia Rugby has also attracted worldwide attention from auditors at KPMG and Ernst & Young, who were brought in at the request of World Rugby.The findings raise significant concerns regarding the governance, accountability, and transparency practices of President Qais Al Dhalai and Asia Rugby.
- Absence of Legal Status in UAE: Despite being headquartered in Dubai, Asia Rugby remains unregistered in the UAE. Consequently, it operates through the UAE Rugby Federation’s bank account, over which Al Dhalai has significant control. This lack of financial independence and transparency undermines Asia Rugby’s credibility and accountability.
- Deficient Financial Oversight: The audits highlight poor financial tracking and the lack of proper reconciliation processes. Payments have allegedly been processed without proper checks, increasing the risk of misuse. This “immature controls culture,” as stated in the report, poses an alarming risk to Asia Rugby’s integrity.
- Opaque Sponsorship Arrangements: While Asia Rugby struggled to attract sponsors under Al Dhalai’s leadership, it finally secured a deal with Emirates in 2024. However, critical details of this partnership remain undisclosed, adding to concerns about financial transparency under Al Dhalai’s presidency.
- Non-Transparent Appointment Practices: Personnel appointments were often made without an open hiring process, with some roles given to individuals linked personally or professionally to Al Dhalai. Such favoritism only deepens the mistrust in Asia Rugby’s leadership.
A Stark Warning for World Rugby
As World Rugby embraces Al Dhalai’s candidacy as a representative on its Executive Board, these revelations should serve as a grave warning. His record reflects a pattern of constitutional manipulation, lack of accountability, and self-serving decisions that contradict rugby’s core values. A leader willing to engage in secret deals and exploit high office for personal gain is unlikely to bring the transparency and integrity that World Rugby requires.
Allowing Al Dhalai to ascend further within rugby’s global hierarchy could set a dangerous precedent, inviting more governance crises and undermining World Rugby’s reputation. For the good of the sport and its stakeholders worldwide, Al Dhalai’s candidacy merits serious scrutiny. His tenure at Asia Rugby raises too many red flags to be ignored, suggesting that his leadership may be detrimental to the future of rugby as a fair, inclusive, and transparent sport.
