Hong Kong China claimed the men’s gold medal and Japan secured the women’s title as rugby sevens at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games concluded in front of a capacity crowd at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Rugby Field on Saturday, 3 October.
Hong Kong China defeated China in the men’s final to secure their third consecutive Asian Games gold medal, following titles in Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023.
Hong Kong China reached the final by defeating Korea, while China edged hosts Japan in a closely contested semi-final. Japan recovered to claim the men’s bronze medal, completing the podium alongside Hong Kong China and China.
In the women’s competition, Japan delighted their home supporters with a hard-fought victory over defending champions China to secure gold. The hosts advanced to the final after defeating Hong Kong China, while China overcame Thailand.
Hong Kong China claimed the women’s bronze medal following a narrow victory over Thailand.
The three-day tournament brought together 12 men’s teams and eight women’s teams, providing a major platform for rugby across Asia and an opportunity for athletes to represent their nations on one of the continent’s biggest sporting stages.
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Preparation and Tournament Delivery
Preparations for the rugby sevens competition began in August 2024 and continued through 2025 and 2026, with close coordination between Asia Rugby and the Asian Games Organising Committee
Asia Rugby’s Emirates Match Officials participated in preparation camps that included fitness testing such as the Bronco test, performance reviews and opportunities to build consistency ahead of the competition. An online workshop before the Games further supported their preparation.
International Technical Officials and National Technical Officials delivered the competition on the ground, supported by match officials, medical teams, volunteers and tournament personnel.
Ghaith Jalajel, Technical Delegate for the rugby sevens competition, said:
“I sincerely appreciate the support and cooperation of the Asian Games Organising Committee throughout the preparation process. Their commitment was essential to delivering the competition.
“I also thank our International Technical Officials and National Technical Officials, whose professionalism, teamwork and dedication brought our preparations to life and ensured the successful delivery of the tournament.”
Medal Presentations
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai presented medals alongside members of the Asia Rugby leadership, including Vice Presidents Tanka Lal Ghising and Wang Yun; Secretary General Benjamin van Rooyen; Executive Committee Members Asanga Seneviratne, Batbayar Purevjargal and Gerald Prabhu; and President’s Advisor for Central Asia, Nurlan Balbarakov.
Also participating in the presentations were Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture and President of AINAGOC, and Kyoko Raita, AINAGOC Board Member and Chairperson of the Aichi Prefectural Sports Promotion Council.
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said:
“The Asian Games are a proud occasion for our rugby family, bringing together athletes from across the continent to represent their nations with passion, determination and pride. I congratulate Hong Kong China and Japan on their gold medals and commend every participating team for their commitment throughout the competition.
“The capacity crowd and wonderful atmosphere in Nagoya made this an occasion to remember. Seeing supporters come together to celebrate our athletes demonstrates the power of rugby to connect people across Asia.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to our hosts, the organising committee, our Emirates Match Officials, volunteers and everyone who contributed to the tournament. Their dedication behind the scenes is essential to giving our athletes the platform they deserve.
“We must continue building on this momentum, supporting our Member Unions and creating more opportunities for young people across Asia to discover and enjoy our game.”
