Katsuki Furuse
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| Born | 25 January 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Katsuki Furuse (古瀬 勝貴, Furuse Katsuki; born January 25, 2002) is a Japanese rugby union and World Rugby referee.
Background
[edit]Furuse was born on 25 January 2002 in Ōnojō, Fukuoka Prefecture. Growing up, Furuse played rugby in junior high school, playing as a hooker and serving as his team's captain. However, he opted to become a referee rather than a player.[1] In 2018, Furuse passed the Kyusyu Rugby Football Union B-level exam, becoming the youngest person to obtain a referee license.[2] In 2020, Furuse enrolled at Waseda University and joined the Waseda University Rugby Football Club as a referee.[2]
Refereeing career
[edit]In 2021, Furuse was selected by the Japan Rugby Football Union as an A-class certified referee.[3] That year, at 19, Furuse refereed his first professional match in the Top Challenge League.[4]
In 2023, Furuse was appointed to officiate at the National Provincial Championship, officiating a match between Northland and Canterbury.[2] In 2024, Furuse was selected as an assistant referee at the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[5] Later that year, Furuse was selected by World Rugby to officiate the World Rugby U20 Trophy, in an initiative to develop young talent and expand the pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[6] Furuse made his test debut that same year on 16 November, officiating a test match between Hong Kong and Brazil.[7]
In 2025, during the World Rugby U20 Championship match between Australia and South Africa, Furuse was forced to use a mobile phone to communicate with the television match official (TMO) following equipment failure.[8] Later that year, Furuse was invited by the French Rugby Federation as part of an exchange program.[9] Furuse officiated two Pro D2 matches that season, earning praise for his performances.[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "ラグビー高校生審判、Ｗ杯にトライ 国内で唯一、東福岡高２年・古瀬さん 夢へ練習試合で研さん". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 24 December 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Rugby's rising star To the world stage as a referee". Waseda University. 23 November 2023.
- ↑ "早大2年の古瀬健樹さんが日本協会A級公認レフリーに認定 東福岡高時代はラグビー部に所属せず 夢はW杯" (in Japanese). Chunichi Shimbun. 22 October 2021.
- ↑ "19歳の大学1年生。古瀬健樹レフリー、トップチャレンジリーグで堂々と。" (in Japanese). Rugby Republic 2019. 1 March 2021.
- ↑ "Match Official Appointments - U20 Six Nations 2024". World Rugby.
- ↑ "Emirates World Rugby Match Official appointments for men's July international window and Pacific Nations Cup". World Rugby. 7 May 2024.
- ↑ "November 2024 International Match Appointments for Americas". Americas Rugby News. 11 November 2024.
- ↑ "Coupe du monde U20 de rugby : privé de micro, l'arbitre d'Afrique du Sud-Australie appelle son assistant vidéo... par téléphone" (in French). Le Figaro. 29 June 2025.
- ↑ "Top 14 – Qui est Katsuki Furuse, l'arbitre japonais qui va officier lors du choc Toulouse – UBB ?". Midi Olympique. 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Dupont, Lucas (1 February 2026). "Pro D2 : "On est de mieux en mieux arbitrés…" Le Japonais Katsuki Furuse a convaincu lors du match entre le SU Agen et Nevers" (in French). La Dépêche du Midi.