The 2026 Asian Games will take place in Aichi & Nagoya, Japan, and the Rugby 7s will take place from 1-3 October at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium in Nagoya – we look at the teams competing and confirmed pools.
Feature Photo Credit: Asian Games 2022 Rugby 7s Women medalists – Article updated with confirmed Squads & Schedule
In total, 8 Women’s teams and 12 Men’s teams will be competing for gold, silver and bronze at the 20th edition of the sporting event. The Chinese women and Hong Kong China Men are the defending champions from 2022.
The final confirmed list of participating rugby 7s teams was confirmed by Asia Rugby on 23rd July, with the pool draw held the same day.
Unions target this tournament as it’s linked to funding from their respective Olympic Committees, and several unions have or will be sending their 7s teams to camps overseas in preparation for the tournament and the ARESS 2026.
The Asian Games 2026 7s is sandwiched between the two Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series in 2026 to be held in Suzhou, China (August 29-30) and Colombo, Sri Lanka (October 17-18).
- The Chinese women were runners-up in ARESS 2026 Leg 1 and will be looking to defend their Asian Games crown. They have finished in the top two in every event since 2010.
- Hong Kong China Men had a camp in Portugal and played in the UK LIT7s 2026; they won the opening round of the ARESS 2026.
- The Hong Kong China Women played a tournament in China, had a camp in Poland and won the LIT7s 2026. They finished 4th in ARESS 2026 Leg 1.
- HKCR (Men and Women), Japan Men, and Thailand Women also played in the Melrose Claymores back in April.
- The Sri Lanka Men also competed at the LIT7s and have played an event in Europe – a pool of players are also contracted until the end of the year for the first time – they have changed their coaching setup after ARESS 2026 Leg 1.
- The Chinese Men played several 7s events in Europe over the Summer – they came 3rd in ARESS 2026 Leg 1.
- The Thailand women had camp in New Zealand, while their men headed to a camp in Japan.
- The Japanese Men and Women have had camps domestically. The Sakura 7s won the ARESS 2026 Leg 1, while the men were runners-up. The Japan Sakura 7s played all season long in the HSBC SVNS and competed domestically in the Taiyo Women’s Sevens Series.
- Teams such as India, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka also played in the CASA 7s in May 2026.
HKCR Men won Gold and the Women Bronze in 2022
In 2022, the medalists from the Asian Games in Rugby 7s were:
- Women: China (Gold), Japan (Silver), Hong Kong China (Bronze)
- Men: Hong Kong China (Gold), South Korea(Silver), Japan (Bronze)
Since 2014, only Japan and China Women have finished in the top 2, swapping positions for gold and silver. Kazakhstan won gold in 2010, and 2022 was the first time they did not place for a medal.
For the men, as far back as 2010, only three teams have placed for medals – Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong China. Japan won the three-peat until 2014, and now HKCR are aiming for the same this year.
Asian Games 2026 Rugby 7s Pools
Men’s Pools
Pool A
- Hong Kong China
- China
- Malaysia
- Uzbekistan
Pool B
- Japan
- Thailand
- Korea
- Kazakhstan
Pool C
- Sri Lanka
- UAE
- Singapore
- Philippines
Image Credit – Asia Rugby
Women’s Pools
Pool A
- Japan
- Thailand
- Kazkahstan
- Singapore
Pool B
- China
- Hong Kong China
- India
- Malaysia
Image Credit – Asia Rugby
Confirmed Rugby 7s Squads – Asian Games 2026
The Asian Games Rugby 7s portal has been updated and has added all participating players and teams.
Japan Women’s & Men’s Squads
Unfortunately, there was a late change for the Japan men, with Shotaro Tsuoka replaced by Haruhiko Uemura due to an injury in the week of the competition.
Korea Men’s 7s Squad
The Korean squad also had a late change due to injury, with Jeong Yeonsik coming in for Park Woobeen.
Malaysia Women’s 7s Squad
Malaysia Men’s 7s Squad
UAE Men
Emosi Ratuvecanau and Niko Volavola make this team tick and bring the flair and power game, but as a squad they have matured and built multiple threats across the team. Surprisingly, we didn’t see Mohammad Ali Bandari, who is the quickest player in the team and scores plenty of tries
India Women’s Squad
India made their Asian Games Rugby 7s debut at 2010 Guangzhou Games but missed the next two editions. At Hangzhou 2022, they finished seventh, and six in this squad competed at that event (Captain Shikha Yadav, Sandhya Rai, Mama Naik, Dumuni Marndi, Kalyani Patil and Vashnavi Patil).
They finished sixth in Leg 1 of the ARESS 2026. Former South African 7s Player and SA Women’s 7s Coach Paul Delport is the Head Coach, and he told the media, “The Asian Games is an important opportunity for this group and one that we have been building towards over the course of the season.
We know the level of competition we will face, and our focus has been on preparing the players to be consistent in our execution, stay composed under pressure and trust the work we have put in.”
Shikha Yadav (C), Dumuni Marndi (VC), Amandeep Kaur, Arti Kumari, Bhumika Shukla, Vaishnavi Patil, Guriya Kumari, Kalyani Patil, Mama Naik, Nirmalya Rout, Sandhya Rai, Sandhyarani Tudu, Ujjwala Ghuge.
Thailand Men’s Squad
Without Ben Paltridge and Doh Mooh P’Kaw, who played ARESS and were their two best players, they might not reach the highs of that tournament, but they are still aiming for a top-half finish.
Thailand Women’s Squad
There is a return for Wannaree Meechok after she missed the ARESS 2026 Leg 1 with an injury that required surgery, and she brings leadership and play-making abilities. Jirawan Chutrakun is the attacking threat, and there are not many quicker players than her.
Hong Kong China Women’s Squad
Chloe CHAN (C); Micayla BALTAZAR (VC); AU King To; AU Yeung Sin Yi Maggie; CHAN Tsz Ching Agnes; CHAN Stephanie Chor Ki; CHONG Ka Yan; Shanna FORREST; HO Wai On Jessica; Julia Mibuy MBA OYANA; NAM Ka Man; Natasha OLSON-THORNE; Gabrielle RIVERS;
Women’s Staff: Paul JOHN (Manager); Andy VILK (Head Coach); CHONG Shing Hin (S&C Coach); Callum CHIA (Physiotherapist); Mark KOMAR (Analyst).
Hong Kong China Men’s Squad
James CHRISTIE (C); Matteo AVITABILE; Julien BOURRON; Max DENMARK; Liam HERBERT; LEE Ka To, Cado; Callum MCCULLOUGH; Juan Esono MBA OYANA; Alessandro NARDONI; Bryn PHILLIPS; Matthew RICKARD; Harry SAYERS; Rory STEWART-COX.
Men’s Staff: Paul JOHN (Manager); Jevon GROVES (Men’s Coach); Peter JERICEVICH (Asst. Coach); Tomos HOWELLS (Skills Coach); WONG Tsz Kit (S&C Coach); Stephen MUTCH (Physiotherapist); Mark Komar (ANALYST).
Sri Lanka Men’s Squad
- Diluksha Dange
- Akash Madushanka
- Chathura Soysa
- Gayan Perera
- Srinath Sooriyabandara – (Captain)
- Dilan Ekanayake
- Jayathu Rajarathne
- Janidu Dilshan
- Shaahid Zumri
- Kavindu Perera
- Pasindu Bandara
- Devinda Rathnayake
- Gamunu Chethiya
Singapore Women’s and Men’s Squads
Settled-looking squads for Singapore, but one to watch for the women is Jayne Chan, who has spent a season in Australia playing rugby league (she was one of their best at the SEA Games in December 2025), as well as Victoria Chew.
For the men, Hidayat Jeffrydin played the RPL this season and has serious speed and a mean step.
Uzbekistan Men’s Squad
Kazakhstan Women’s & Men’s Squads
China Women’s & Men’s Squads
The Chinese women look like they are fielding a stronger team than in ARESS 2026 and have half a dozen players with Olympic experience – with the likes of Che Keyi (after a season with Nagato Blue Angels in Japan), Hu Yu, Wang Wanyu (all three played at the 2024 Olympics).
Philippines Men’s Squad
Former Black Ferns XV RWC-winning coach and long-time coach of the Philippines 7s Men, Darryl Suasua, is still Head Coach after his stint with the Manusina XV at the WXV Global Series Challenger. The Assistant Coach is Jake Letts (former Philippine Volcanoes player and PRFU GM).
The squad looks stronger than they have fielded in the ARESS last year or the SEA Games 2025, and there are a few players who compete in Hong Kong, such as Rob Fogerty & Kai Stroem. Several players were part of the Unions Cup XV 2026 title-winning team.
- HERNANDEZ, Edlen Gil Robert Cortez
- SMITH, Luc Stefan Villalba
- BLATTEIS, Michael Moses Gomez
- COLEMAN, Donald Keith Canon
- STEPHENSON, Ned Ralph Plarizan
- BLAKE, Harrison Phillip Carceller
- FOGERTY, Robert John Cortez
- STROEM, Kai Kristian Ledesma
- SEDDON, Hamish Roland Henry Flores
- WARREN, Charles Michael Amistozo
- BARBERIS, Raphael Jose Pierre Concepcion
- SORIANO, Jacob
- SCHIRMER, Jason Cale Bonilla
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- Photo Credit – PRFU
Match Officials – Asian Games 2026 Rugby 7s
How To Watch The Asian Games 2026 Rugby 7s
Streaming details are TBC. We can tell you that media and union accreditation is very challenging, as it’s not an Asia Rugby or JRFU event and the Games are sold as a package to each territory, and each local broadcaster will decide what is aired.
You can try the Asian Games TV Streaming platform.
Asian Games 2026 Rugby 7s Schedule
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