TIGERS UNITED

The opening chapter of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2026, powered by Emirates, delivered everything fans could ask for, speed, drama, comebacks and unforgettable finishes. With 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams battling across two action-packed days in Suzhou, China, the continent’s finest sevens players produced a spectacular start to the championship. In the women’s competition, defending champions Japan showed why they remain the team to beat. China stunned Japan by scoring first in the Cup Final, but the champions responded with composure and quality. Yume Hirano levelled the score before Mei Ohtani , Seika Ohashi and Wakana Akita completed a 24-7 victory. Japan collected 20 points to lead the standings, with China second on 18 and Thailand third on 16. Thailand produced one of the weekend’s biggest comebacks, recovering from 12-0 down against Hong Kong to force golden-point extra time before winning 17-12. The men’s competition was equally explosive. Defending champions Hong...

The wait is almost over. Asia’s best rugby sevens teams are ready to battle for supremacy when the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series , kicks off in Suzhou, China. And this year, the stakes are higher than ever. Twelve men’s teams and 12 women’s teams will go head-to-head in a tournament packed with speed, power, skill and drama. Every try matters. Every tackle counts. Every point could make the difference when the championship reaches its final round. Round One takes place in Suzhou on 29–30 August, before the action moves to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the decisive second round on 17–18 October. There will also be fresh faces and new ambitions. India and Kazakhstan have earned promotion into the men’s Series, while Iran and Uzbekistan make their women’s Series debut after impressive performances at the Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy in Muscat. The established powerhouses, however, will be ready. Hong Kong enter as the defending men’s champions after winning the 2025 Series, with Japan fi...