Williamson, who has refereed in over 100 first-class matches, including two Tests matches and 40 Super Rugby games, will be taking his new role with immediate effect. He has also refereed at the World Rugby Sevens Series and the 2010 IRB Junior World Championships.

Williamson has already recommended that schoolboys who played at the top level and former national players should take up refereeing. He wanted to have a coaching and refereeing development mindset in the future. All top-performing referees will be encouraged to go to the Asian level and then world level in the future. Already four national players have taken up refereeing.

All referee coaches will be headed by Dilroy Fernando.