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World Rankings: 9-year high within All Blacks' reach in Cape Town
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2026 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens set to begin
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A combined total of 14 nations are set to be represented across 17 teams in the biennial FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens, which is set to get underway in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Rugby sevens has been a World University Championship sport since 2004, proving a valuable platform for several nations to develop their sevens programs and go on to achieve success at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and the HSBC SVNS Series.
Eight women’s teams and nine men’s teams are set to compete at Stellenbosch, with the new tournament lining up and leaning into the current tour between the All Blacks and Springboks.
Set to be played at Danie Craven Stadium from September 4th-6th, the 2026 iteration is set to be one of the most competitive yet in the sevens pathway calendar, with close to 200 athletes across both competitions set to take part.
Last played at Aix-en-Provence, France in 2024, the results of that tournament saw several rising nations claim major honours, with Japan topping the women’s competition, with Canada and Spain completing the poll position in second and third, respectively.
The men’s competition also saw the Japanese make the podium finishing in third, with South Africa claiming silver but going down to the eventual champions in hosts France.
However, with France not taking part in the men’s competition this year, hosts South Africa will likely be viewed as favourites for the tournament, but will face stiff competition from the likes of Japan, Argentina and Australia.
The women’s tournament is set to be even more competitive, with Japan will be looking to defend their title but facing stiff competition from Canada, France, Australia, the USA and hosts South Africa, among others.
“The FISU World University Championship Rugby 7s is not merely a platform for competition,” Jerry Laka, president of University Sport South Africa said in a statement.
“It is a golden opportunity for you to showcase your skills, learn valuable lessons from your peers, and create lasting bonds that transcend borders.”
“We are now fine-tuning plans that will celebrate rugby excellence, showcase cultural diversity, and create lasting memories,” Event General Manager, Drikus Hancke, added.
“We promise a world-class competition in a sporting festival atmosphere that is sure to build camaraderie and connections between players, officials and guests that will thrive long after the final whistle.”
2026 FISU WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY SEVENS
Details: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch – 4th-6th September 2026
Teams:
Women’s Team: South Africa, Botswana, Japan, Canada, France, Australia, USA, Ireland
Men’s Teams: South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Australia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Uganda, Norway, Japan
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