Your Guide To Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Calendar 2025

Asia Rugby has confirmed the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Calendar for 2025, which they say is being presented under the banner of “Destination Asia.” Although dates and locations for the Open grade, U20, and U18 tournaments have been announced, there is still no clarity in pathways for promotion and relegation or which teams will be competing.

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s and Women’s Sevens Series 2025

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025 will feature 12 national teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions, which is a change from the usual 8 in previous editions. However, there will only be two legs and not the usual three.

The top-placed men’s and women’s teams in the Asian Series will earn qualification to the new World Rugby HSBC SVNS Division 3 2026.

With only one qualifier up for grabs, the likely contenders among the men will be Hong Kong China and Japan.

As Japan and China’s women’s teams are already part HSBC World Rugby SVNS Series, the next best finisher aside from those two in the ARSS will earn qualification (is our understanding). This means it is likely to be a two-team race between Hong Kong China and Thailand.

In 2024, the HKCR men went through the series undefeated to be crowned Asian champions, while the Chinese women did enough to also be crowned Series Champions ahead of Japan.

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – China were the Women’s ARSS 2024 champions

1. Hangzhou, China (20–21 September) – Hangzhou Normal University
2. Colombo, Sri Lanka (18–19 October) – Racecourse Stadium, Colombo

Asia Rugby has not clarified at this point which 12 teams for the men and women will be competing.

In 2024, the 8 teams in the ARSS were:

• Women: China, Hong Kong China, Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore
• Men: Hong Kong China, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Singapore

Singapore ended last for both women and men, while the Philippines won the Trophy Series in 2024.

The top four ARST in 2024 were:

• Men: Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan
• Women: Philippines, India, Guam, Indonesia

HKCR Men won the ARSS 2024

Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy (AREST) 2025

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2025 will be held across two legs as well, but as a sub-regional competition. It hasn’t been made clear how this translates into pathways for qualification to the top-tier ARSS?

• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (11–12 October) – This will be the first-ever international rugby tournament in the Mongolian capital. Competing teams are due to represent East, South, and Southeast Asian teams (although the exact number or origins of participants has not been confirmed).

Dashdendev Gansukh (Austin), Mongolia Rugby Football Union President, said, “It is a moment of immense pride for Mongolia to host its first-ever international rugby tournament. Rugby has been growing steadily at the grassroots level in our country, and bringing the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy to Ulaanbaatar is a historic milestone.

This event will inspire our youth, strengthen regional ties, and showcase Mongolia’s unique hospitality and passion for sport to the wider rugby world.”

Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2024 Winners – Philippines

• Muscat, Oman (25–26 October) – Teams from the Central and West Asia region will be competing in this event (the numbers and origins have not been announced). It will be held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

Nabil Al Busaidi, Chairman of Oman Rugby, said of hosting, “We are thrilled to learn that Oman Rugby has been awarded the hosting rights for the prestigious Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy – Central and West Asia region! This marks a monumental milestone for rugby in the Sultanate and the wider region, as we proudly welcome up to 20 international teams to compete at the highest level of sevens rugby.”

Oman Rugby posted online, “This isn’t just a tournament – it’s a testament to the rising rugby culture in Oman and our shared commitment with Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth and Asia Rugby to develop the game across all corners of the continent.”

Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Men’s and Women’s Sevens 2025

• Rajgir, Bihar, India (9–10 August 2025)

This will be Rajgir’s first international rugby event. In May, it was confirmed that the tournament would trial a new rugby sevens law variation to award 7 points in rugby sevens for a try scored directly between the posts, with no conversion kick.

There was no U20 Sevens in Asia in 2024. India was due to host the tournament in Ahmedabad in November, but a message was circulated that, due to the late withdrawal of the 2024 Asia Rugby Emirates Under 20 Men & Women 7s host and the inability to secure a new host, the competition has been cancelled for 2024.

In 2023, the competing Women’s teams were Nepal, Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR), Malaysia, and Thailand. The men were from Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, India, and Hong Kong China.

Asia Rugby has since said that there will be 8 national teams in both the men’s and women’s U20 categories at the 2025 edition.

Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Men’s and Women’s Sevens 2025

Asia Rugby Emirates U18 Men’s and Women’s Sevens 2024 Captains

• Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (13–14 September 2025)

Formerly known as Kweisui, Hohhot will host the U18 Sevens tournament in 2025.

In 2024, the UAE U18 Boys won the Cup final, beating HKCR, with Sri Lanka 3rd and Malaysia 4th. On the girls’ side, Hong Kong China were champions and beat Thailand in the final, followed by Malaysia in 3rd and India in 4th.

Asia Rugby said this tournament is a “vital pathway event” as it will determine team seedings for future international competitions, such as the Pathway to the Youth Olympic Games YOG2026 for Asia.

Asian Sevens Rugby News 2025

• Sevens Rugby Law Variation To Be Trialled At Asia Rugby Emirates U20 7s Championship 2025 in India.
• Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024.
• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Head Coach Yumeno Noda Reflects On Opening Round of Taiyo Seimei WSS.
• Mie Pearls Win Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 Tournament One In Kumagaya.