Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Details Confirmed

The details of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 were confirmed by the JRFU following the previous announcement of the Challenger Series and the confirmation of Taiyo Seimei as the Title Sponsor for all of the events – the format remains mostly the same as was introduced last season.

Photo Credit – JRFU (Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025)

The one change to the format in 2026 is the introduction of a second Challenger Tournament weekend. This season, the two-tournament competition is held across separate weekends in Nagoya and Shizuoka, which the JRFU says provides even more opportunity for emerging teams to be exposed to this high-level competition.

The Challenger Tournament offers a pathway for emerging sevens sides and the opportunity and incentive to graduate into the top-tier of the series, where they will face Japan’s elite sevens sides.

The Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series started in 2014 and is a key pillar in the development and promotion of the women’s game in Japan.

Photo Credit – JRFU – Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025

Akane Kagawa, JRFU Director of Women’s Rugby said, “The Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series continues to play a vital role in the development of the women’s game in Japan and remains one of our key growth drivers. With the launch last year of the Grand Final Tournament and the promotion–relegation format adding further intensity to the final weekend, this year’s competition is sure to be just as compelling.”

Nagato Blue Angels won the Taiyo Seimei WSS 2025 Grand Final Title, which was held in August 2025 and it was their third title in a row and their 5th overall, so they will be favourites this season.

At the conclusion of the recent Japanese domestic XVs season, several player retirements were announced, and clubs have started to announce new signings for the upcoming sevens season, including new coach appointments (we will publish a full list close to the start of the season).

Akane Kagawa added, “The competition is central not only to the advancement of sevens rugby but also serves as an important pathway for identifying athletes capable of progressing into our elite Fifteens programmes.

Providing well-organised, high-quality competitions is crucial to strengthening the performance of our national teams in both Sevens and Fifteens.”

Photo Credit – JRFU – Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025

Participating Teams -Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026

The 12 Core Teams based on the 2025 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series are:

• Nagato Blue Angels (1st)
• PEARLS (2nd)
• Yokohama TKM (3rd)
• Nanairo Prism Fukuoka (4th)
• Nippon Sports Science University Women’s Rugby Club (5th)
• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Rugby Club (6th)
• Hokkaido Barbarians Diana (7th)
• JSDF Physical Training School (8th)
• Yokogawa Musahino Artemi-Stars (1st in promotion/relegation series)
• Arukas Queen Kumagaya Women’s Sevens Rugby Football Club (2nd in promotion/relegation series)
• Otemon Gakuin Rugby Club VENUS (3rd in promotion/relegation series)
• Challenge Team (4th in promotion/relegation series)

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Format

• Two Challenger Tournaments will get the Series underway, followed by 3 regular tournaments with the 12 core teams – Kumagaya, Tochigi and Kitakyushu, culminating in a Grand Final Tournament in Sapporo
• 12 core teams include the eight top-ranked teams from the 2025 series, and four teams that were successful in the 2025 promotion-relegation series
• The 8 top-ranked teams from the 3 regular tournaments will compete for a spot in a winner-takes-all Grand Final
• The bottom four-ranked teams will face the top four-ranked teams from the Challenger Tournament in a promotion-relegation series played alongside the Grand Final Tournament (as in last season).

Photo Credit – JRFU – Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Schedule

Challenger Tournament Round One – Nagoya

• Date: May 16 & 17, 2026
• Venue: Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Nagoya

Challenger Tournament Round Two – Shizuoka

• Date: June 13 & 14, 2026
• Venue: ECOPA Stadium, Shizuoka

Tournament One – Kumagaya

• Date: June 20 & 21, 2026
• Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

For the tournament in Kumagaya, the pool groupings will be determined according to the final standings of the 2025 series.

Tournament Two – Tochigi

*The pool groupings for the second tournament in Tochigi and the third tournament in Kitakyushu will be determined based on the results of the previous tournament, according to this from the JRFU.

• Date: July 11 & 12, 2026
• Venue: Honda Green Heat Stadium, Tochigi

Tournament Three – Kitakyushu

• Date: July 25 & 26, 202
• Venue: Mikuni World Stadium

Grand Final Tournament – Sapporo

• Date: August 9, 2026
• Venue: Daiwa House Premist Dome, Sapporo

Asian Rugby Sevens News 2026

• Japan Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Challenger Tournaments.
• Four Teams Qualify for HSBC SVNS World Championship Series From SVNS Division 2
• Melrose Claymores Teams for Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2026 Confirmed.
• 2026 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens – Fan’s Guide On What You Need To Know.