Malcolm Changleng

Malcolm Changleng

Changleng at Madras College (2010)
Date of birth	(1970-04-25) 25 April 1970 (age 54)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) – Scottish Borders () – Gala () Refereeing career Years Competition Apps 2007 Rugby World Cup 2007 Test Matches 2004 European Shield 2004 Heineken Cup

Malcolm Changleng (born 25 April 1970) is a Scottish former professional rugby union referee. He is the identical twin brother of fellow referee David Changleng.

Changleng began his rugby career as a player with Gala RFC, playing at fullback in the team that won the 1999 Scottish Cup, along with Scottish internationals Gregor Townsend and Chris Paterson.^[1] He also represented the Scottish Borders in the 1996–97 Heineken Cup, scoring a try in a 34–25 defeat at home to Leinster on 26 October 1996.^[2]

After retiring as a player, Changleng followed his brother into refereeing. He turned professional in 2002, and refereed his first European match on 17 January 2004, when he took charge of the European Shield match between Viadana and Madrid. His first European Rugby Champions Cup match came the following season, when he refereed Benetton Treviso's 34–0 away win over Bourgoin on 29 October 2004.^[3]

On the international scene, Changleng's most prestigious refereeing appointment came on 9 June 2007, when he officiated a match between South Africa and Samoa.^[4] He also refereed 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying matches in both North America and Europe before being named as one of 13 touch judges for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, where he was the only Scottish official named.^[4][5]

In January 2008, Changleng retired from professional refereeing in order to spend more time with his family and return to his teaching career at Galashiels Academy.^[4]

References

1. "Referees around the World A-J". Rugby 365. 365 Digital. 13 August 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
2. "The Borders 25-34 Leinster". ercrugby.com. European Rugby Cup. 26 October 1996. Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
3. "Bourgoin v Benetton Treviso". ercrugby.com. European Rugby Cup. 29 October 2004. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
4. "Referee Changleng retires". Scrum.com. ESPNscrum. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
5. "Officials". rwc2007.irb.com. Rugby World Cup. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.