World Rugby appoints three Kenyans to Citing Commissioner’s Panel

Kenya has scored a major milestone on the global rugby scene with the appointment of three of its own — Edwin Teya, John Ojara, and James Absaloms — to the prestigious World Rugby Citing Commissioner’s Panel. The appointments open doors for the trio to officiate as citing commissioners in elite men’s and women’s international test matches around the world.

For Teya and Ojara, this recognition reflects years of dedication and service, not just in local competitions but also in international fixtures at various levels. Their inclusion alongside Absaloms on the panel marks a significant vote of confidence from World Rugby in the quality and professionalism of Kenyan rugby officials.

Speaking on his appointment, Ojara expressed a mix of excitement and humility. “I am incredibly honored and excited to announce my appointment by World Rugby as a Citing Commissioner for an upcoming top-tier women’s international rugby match in July 2025,” he said. The assignment will be his first top-tier international duty since obtaining his World Rugby accreditation in 2022.

Ojara acknowledged that while he has been actively involved in officiating local 15s and 7s matches as well as some lower-tier internationals, this appointment is on a different level altogether. He described it as a major milestone in his officiating journey, attributing the opportunity to the Kenya Rugby Union’s commitment to developing rugby across the board. According to him, the Union’s investment in training and capacity building continues to bear fruit, not just for players and coaches, but for officials as well.