Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Returns as Asia’s Best Head to Suzhou

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series returns on 29–30 August as 24 of Asia’s leading men’s and women’s national teams gather in Suzhou, China, for the opening round of the region’s premier annual rugby sevens competition.

The two-round Series will once again showcase Asia’s elite sevens talent, with teams competing for regional honours while building momentum ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in October. Following the opening tournament in China, the Series will conclude in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 17–18 October, where the 2026 champions will be crowned & will earn a spot in the SVNS 3.

Suzhou, one of eastern China’s most vibrant cities, provides an outstanding backdrop for the opening round. Renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage classical gardens, rich cultural heritage and modern innovation, the city will welcome Asia’s best sevens teams for what promises to be an exciting start to the 2026 season.

Preparing for Asia’s Biggest Stage

The Emirates Sevens Series remains the highest level of annual regional sevens competition in Asia and provides invaluable high-performance competition for teams preparing for the Asian Games.

Every match offers players and coaches the opportunity to build combinations, test squad depth and compete against the region’s strongest opposition as they continue preparations for one of Asia’s premier multi-sport events.

New Nations Earn Their Opportunity

Four nations will make their Series debut after earning promotion through the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in Muscat, Oman. India and Kazakhstan secured promotion in the men’s competition, while Iran and Uzbekistan progressed in the women’s competition, highlighting the strength of Asia Rugby’s competition pathway and the continued growth of the game across the region.

Their promotion reinforces the importance of the Emirates Sevens Trophy in creating meaningful opportunities for emerging unions to progress to Asia’s highest level of regional sevens competition.

A Proven Platform for Excellence

Since 2009, the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series has grown into the region’s flagship annual sevens competition, producing Asian Games medallists, Rugby World Cup Sevens participants and Olympic qualification campaigns while providing emerging unions with a pathway to the highest level of regional competition.

The 2026 edition promises another exciting chapter as established rugby powers defend their positions and newly promoted nations look to make their mark on Asia’s biggest annual sevens stage.

Leadership Reflection

Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said:

“The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series continues to be one of the flagship competitions in our calendar, showcasing the very best of rugby sevens across our region. We are proud to welcome Asia’s leading men’s and women’s teams to Suzhou as they begin another exciting Series.

“Our partnership with Emirates continues to strengthen rugby throughout Asia by providing world-class competition while supporting the growth of the game across all 36 Member Unions. It is particularly encouraging to see emerging nations such as Iran, Uzbekistan, India and Kazakhstan earning their place through the Emirates Sevens Trophy, demonstrating that investment in development pathways is delivering real results.”

Asia Rugby Competitions Committee Chairperson Asanga Seneviratne said:

“The standard of rugby across both the men’s and women’s competitions continues to advance with each season. The are matches are attracting record viewership and coverage a cross the globe and an important platform for the continued growth and development of rugby across Asia.

We are delighted to open the 2026 season in Suzhou before bringing the series to a close in Colombo later this year. We look forward to another outstanding edition of the Emirates Sevens Series, showcasing the talent, passion, and continued progress of rugby across the region.”

Competing Nations
Men’s Series

Hong Kong, China • Japan • Sri Lanka • China • United Arab Emirates • Thailand • Malaysia • Singapore • Korea • Kazakhstan • India Uzbekistan

Women’s Series

Japan • China • Thailand • Hong Kong, China • Kazakhstan • India • Singapore • United Arab Emirates • Malaysia • Sri Lanka • Uzbekistan • Iran

Tournament Schedule

Round One
Suzhou, China
29–30 August 2026

Round Two
Colombo, Sri Lanka
17–18 October 2026

Watch Live Around the World

Fans around the world will be able to watch every match of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series live on RugbyPass TV, World Rugby’s official streaming platform, subject to territory availability. RugbyPass TV offers free access to live matches, highlights and on-demand content across multiple devices.

Asia Rugby will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage across its official digital platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and other social media channels, featuring live coverage, highlights, behind-the-scenes content, interviews and exclusive tournament features.