Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 Leg 2 Colombo Preview

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) Leg 2 takes place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the Racecourse Ground from October 17-18, 2026.

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby

(Updated with all squads and match official appointments – Iran withdrawal)

The Japan women and Hong Kong China Men are in pole position after winning the first leg in Suzhou, China in August, and both won the Asian Games 2026 gold medals.

It will be interesting to see what squads are selected, as many teams had stronger squads at the Asian Games than in the ARESS 2026 Leg 1, and of course some players would have picked up injuries too and will be unavailable.

Several things to note in the coaching boxes since ARESS Leg 1:

• Korea Rugby brought in Nanairo Prism Fukuoka’s coaching director Yusaku Kuwazuru, who was appointed as a support coach for the men’s sevens South Korean national team starting this season at the Asian Rugby Sevens Series and the Asian Games.
• Singapore Rugby took on Iain Chisholm as part of the coaching setup before ARESS Leg 1; he is a former Scotland 7s and GB 7s coach
• Sri Lanka Rugby announced after their 7th-place finish in the 1st leg that they replaced the men’s coaching staff, including Peter Woods. Former national team player and Kandy Sports Club coach Fazil Marija was appointed as Head Coach, with former XVs captain Nigel Ratwatte as Assistant Coach, as well as Tharaka Algama as Strength & Conditioning Coach – despite the changes, they still had a poor Asian Games, placing 7th.

Who Earns Promotion to HSBC SVNS 3 2026-2027?

As far as we know, only 1 Women’s and 1 Men’s team from Asia will qualify for HSBC SVNS 3 (with the dates and location for that tournament still to be announced).

Hong Kong China Men are in pole position as the top-ranked men’s team will qualify. For the Women, Japan top the Women’s log but are already confirmed for the HSBC SVNS Series, so if they do finish top, the next best team would qualify – which currently is China.

On the eve of the tournament, it was confirmed Iran Women would not be competing – with their 12th place finish in Leg 1, it means they should be one of the 2 women’s teams to be relegated to the Trophy Series in 2027. It also meant a late change to the schedule (see further below).

Asia Rugby confirmed, “Following the non-participation of the Iran Women’s Rugby Team, the fixtures have been revised. Teams scheduled to face Iran will be awarded 20–0 wins.”

Women’s Pools – ARESS 2026 Leg 2 Colombo

Pool D

• Japan
• India
• UAE
• Iran (Withdrawn)

Pool E

• China
• Kazakhstan
• Uzbekistan
• Sri Lanka

Pool F

• Thailand
• Hong Kong China
• Malaysia
• Singapore

We are still waiting on the women’s schedule.

But all of the results and standings from Leg 1 can be seen here on Macoocoo.

Men’s Pools – ARESS 2026 Leg 2 Colombo

Pool A

• Hong Kong China
• UAE
• Sri Lanka
• India

Sri Lanka has already confirmed that Srinath Sooriyabandara, captain of the Sri Lanka National Sevens, will be stepping down after this tournament.

Pool B

• Japan
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Uzbekistan

Pool C

• China
• Korea
• Singapore
• Kazakhstan

We are still waiting on the Men’s schedule.

ARESS 2026 Leg 1  Standings

Women’s 7s

Men’s 7s

Confirmed Squads – ARESS 2026 Leg 2 Colombo

These will be updated as the teams announce them – always far too late in our opinion.

India Women and Men 7s

Japan Women’s & Men’s Squads

The JRFU confirmed their Men’s team here.

• Haruhiko Uemura
• Ren OUCHI
• Naoya OGITA
• Tomoki KUSUDA
• Yoshiyuki KOGA
• Ryodai SHIRAKUNI
• Toma SHIWACHI
• Taiyo Sugino
• Ryosei TAKAI
• Yuma Nakagawa
• Takemichi Nakano
• Kouki Hattori
• Taiki Yamaguchi

The JRFU confirmed their Women’s team here. It looks as if they have selected mostly an SDS (Development) team for the second leg, with most of the team in their early 20s. A welcome return for Rinka Matsuda (who, in our opinion, should be in the Sakura XVs and 7s team).

• Yuzuki UMETSU
• Seika Ohashi
• Shiori OKYUDO
• Umi KIKAWA
• Miori KURODA
• Suzuha Saito
• Minako TANIYAMA
• Yukino Tsujisaki
• Kano HASHIMOTO
• Ayane HASEBE
• Kaoru FUJIWARA
• Rinka MATSUDA
• Misaki Matsumura

Thailand Women’s & Men’s Squads

Ben Paltridge and Doh Mooh P’Kaw were a big part of the reason why the Thai men performed so well in the first leg, and their absence in the Asian Games was plain to see. Their inclusion, plus the addition of Ben’s brother, Luke, will mean they will be a formidable team in Leg 2 and could well challenge for a top-four place.

UAE Women’s & Men’s Squads

Singapore Women’s and Men’s Squads

Sri Lanka Women’s & Men’s Squads

Sri Lanka Men

01) Diluksha Dange
02) Akash Madushanka
03) Isuru Kongahawatta
04) Gayan Perera
05) Srinath Sooriyabandara
06) Nilesh Raghavan
07) Jayathu Rajarathne
08) Janidu Dilshan – (Captain)
09) Shaahid Zumri
10) Kavindu Perera
11) Pasindu Bandara
12) Devinda Rathnayake
13) Maliksha Perera

Korea Men’s Squad

Kazakhstan Women’s and Men’s Squads

China Women’s and Men’s Squads

Hong Kong China Women’s and Men’s Squads

Nam Ka Man will earn her 50th cap for the HKCR women andRosie Wright returns from injury, while Josh Eustace and Matt Worley (who is a national Men’s XV player) will make their Hong Kong China 7s debuts.

Malaysia Women’s & Men’s Squads

Uzbekistan Women’s and Men’s Squads

We dont know why only 11 players are listed for the Men’s team – if that’s the case, they will have a very challenging two days.

Match Officials – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 Leg 2 Colombo

Asia Rugby confirmed that 12 referees from seven Member Unions have been selected for the second leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026.

Match Referees

• Hibiki Ikeda – Japan Rugby Football Union
• Sunny Lee – Hong Kong China Rugby
• Ibuki Tetsuka – Japan Rugby Football Union
• Qu Shenggang – China
• Leow Wei Liang – Singapore Rugby Union
• Craig Chan – Hong Kong China Rugby
• Koki Yamamuchi – Japan Rugby Football Union
• Ishanka Abeykoon – SLR
• Aiman Adeeb – Malaysia Rugby
• Niu Yuru – CRFA
• Thomas Ngan – Hong Kong China Rugby
• Lorance Ishuga – United Arab Emirates Rugby Football

Performance Reviewers

• Shane Barr – Hong Kong China Rugby
• Shuhei Kubo – Japan Rugby Football Union

Television Match Officials

• Matthew Rodden – Hong Kong China Rugby
• Christabelle Lim Mee – Singapore Rugby Union

Match Officials Manager

• Dilroy Fernando – Asia Rugby

How To Watch Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026

Matches will be broadcast on RugbyPass TV, subject to territory availability, and usually shown on Asia Rugby social platforms.

ARESS 2026 Leg 2 Colombo Schedule

This was updated following the withdrawal of the Iran Women’s Team.

Asian 7s Rugby News 2026

• Asian Games 2026 Winners.
• Japan Women and Hong Kong China Men Retain Top Spot in ARESS 2026 Leg 1.
• Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 Leg 1 Suzhou Preview.
• Asia Rugby 7s 2026 National Team Tournament Dates & Venues Guide.

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