Malcolm Changleng
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Changleng 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
. 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.
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 Heineken Cup
match came the following season, when he refereed Benetton Treviso
's 34–0 away win over Bourgoin
on 29 October 2004.
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
. 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.
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
, although he has remained active as a part-time referee.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
. He is the identical twin brother of fellow referee David Changleng
David Changleng
David Changleng is a Scottish rugby union referee. He is the identical twin brother of fellow referee Malcolm Changleng.Changleng began his rugby career as a player with Gala RFC, playing at fly-half in a team that included Gregor Townsend and Chris Paterson. Early in his playing career, he also...
.
Changleng began his rugby career as a player with Gala RFC
Gala RFC
Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale....
, playing at fullback in the team that won the 1999 Scottish Cup, along with Scottish internationals Gregor Townsend
Gregor Townsend
Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE is a former Scottish rugby union player who played at fly-half, full back and latterly centre....
and Chris Paterson
Chris Paterson
Chris Paterson is a Scotland internationalist who plays for RaboDirect Pro12 side Edinburgh Rugby. He is Scotland’s record cap and points holder with 109 caps and 809 points. Paterson is capable in a range of positions, including fullback, wing and fly-half. In recent years Paterson has played...
. He also represented the Scottish Borders
Border Reivers (Rugby)
Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....
in the 1996–97 Heineken Cup, scoring a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in a 34–25 defeat at home to Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
on 26 October 1996.
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
European Shield
The European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup....
match between Viadana and Madrid. His first Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
match came the following season, when he refereed Benetton Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso are an Italian professional rugby union club currently competing in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup.They are based in Treviso in Veneto, and owned by the Benetton clothing company....
's 34–0 away win over Bourgoin
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu is a French rugby union club currently competing in the second level of the French league system in the Pro D2. The club have been runners-up in the French championship and the Challenge Yves du Manoir competitions, and have won the Challenge Cup.Founded in 1906 as "Club...
on 29 October 2004.
On the international scene, Changleng's most prestigious refereeing appointment came on 9 June 2007, when he officiated a match between South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
. He also refereed 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying
2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying
For the 2007 Rugby World Cup there were 20 places available in the finals tournament, held in France. The 86 teams taking part in regional qualifying competitions together with the 8 teams which have qualified automatically brings to 94 the total number of teams participating in the 2007 Rugby...
matches in both North America and Europe before being named as one of 13 touch judges for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
in France, where he was the only Scottish official named.
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
Galashiels Academy
Galashiels Academy is the high school in Galashiels, Scotland, that serves the surrounding area as well as Stow . Although refounded in 1938, the school's history goes back as far as 1696. -Notable former pupils:...
, although he has remained active as a part-time referee.