Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series gets underway in Suzhou

The first leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS 2026) is set to get underway this weekend, with the first of the two legs taking place in Suzhou, China.

12 teams for both the men’s and women’s tournaments are set to converge on the Jiangsu province city west of Shanghai for two days of action, with a combined log points across the two legs of action determining the outcome.

The second leg will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka in October, with the two nations are the bottom of each respective table set to be relegated.

The heavyweight sides to the men’s tournament are set to be hosts China, Hong Kong China and Japan, however several new additions are set to ask plenty of questions – with two newly promoted side in Kazakhstan and India.

The defending champions Hong Kong China will be looking to claim their sixth title, having engaged in several camps in Portugal, the side also taking part in the UK LIT 7s Series, several Chinese 7s provincial tournaments, and the Melrose Claymore tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens earlier this year.

The side will also be bolstered by the injection of several players who have also been involved in the XV’s game for Hong Kong China Rugby, with Mike Coverdale also playing in India’s Rugby Premier League (RPL).

“Part of [the] weekend is giving boys an opportunity, the guys who haven’t had many chances this year,” Head coach Jevon Groves told RugbyAsia 24/7.

We’re looking for that performance and how the group connects because some of them haven’t been involved for a while because of the fifteens. There were five or six boys away for a tough campaign over the summer.

“It’s great to have them back; you can see that they looked after themselves, knowing that they’ve had to come into this tough Asian Games bloc now.

“There are some real senior players there, players of maturity and calmness in the way that they bring that leadership into the squad; I’m looking forward to seeing that.”

They will go up in Pool A alongside an unpredictable Thailand outfit, with a rebuilding Malaysian side joined by Uzbekistan.

Pool B will see Hong Kong China’s main competitor and Melrose Claymore runner’s up Japan, who have been looking to build towards an appearance in SVNS 3 and try to make a run to the world series.

They will be joined by the United Arab Emirates, with a rising Singapore also set to offer plenty of opposition after they claimed bronze at the 2025 SEA Games 7s, with Hidayat Jerffrydin becoming the first Singaporean to compete in the Rugby Premier League.

The final time of the pool will be newly promoted side India, and with former France 7s star Paul Albaladejo as head coach and the team filled with RPL talent, the side should ask plenty of questions.

Completing Pool C, fellow Melrose Claymore competitor China will go head-to-head with the dark horse of the men’s tournament, Sri Lanka, who won the inaugural CASA 7s in Tashkent as well as competing at the UK LIT 7s 2026 and Howard Hinton Sevens.

Korea and newly promoted Kazakhstan will complete the final sides in the men’s tournament, with the latter side being an unknown entity with plenty of potential, as evidenced by Magomedrasul Magomedov participating in the 2026 RPL season.

The women’s tournament, meanwhile, will feature HSBC SVNS side Japan, the Sakura 7s also fresh off participating in their domestic tournament, the Taiyo Women’s Sevens Series.

They will be grouped into the same pool as the big improvers of last year’s tournament, India, with the United Arab Emirates and newly promoted side Iran.

2024 Paris Olympics side China will likely be favourites to top their pool, being joined by 2010 Asian Games gold medalists Kazakhstan, who made the 2026 CASA 7s final, losing to Sri Lanka.

Singapore and Uzbekistan will complete the second pool, the latter competing in the Borneo 7s earlier this year, making the final.

The final pool will see two key sides to watch in Thailand and Hong Kong China, the former having made the 2026 Melrose Claymores Final, losing 17-14 to Denmark.

Coached by former All Blacks 7s player and now Nagato Blue Angels Head Coach Lote Raikabula, the side has been in strong form, being the current SEA 7s champions.

Hong Kong China ultimately missed out on the Melrose Claymore Finals, but have been keeping busy and looking for a top three finish to the tournament.

“We’ve been really lucky to get some good preparations,” head coach Andy Vilk told RugbyAsia 24/7.

“We’ve had two tournaments in China and the European tour; good, consistent game time, and those experiences allowed us to look at different combinations, to get tournament experience and to work on our game without necessarily the results pressure on it.”

Completing the sides are two rising outfits in Malaysia and Sri Lanka, the former making a return to Test rugby and winning the SEA Women’s Championship XVs, with several athletes crossing over into the sevens side.

Sri Lanka won the inaugural women’s CASA 7s in Tashkent earlier this year, making them a wildcard for this weekend’s action.

ASIA RUGBY EMIRATES SEVENS SERIES 2026

Men’s tournament:

Group A: Hong Kong China, Thailand, Malaysia, Uzbekistan

Group B: Japan, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, India

Group C: Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Kazakhstan

Women’s tournament:

Group D: Japan, India, United Arab Emirates, Iran

Group E: China, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Uzbekistan

Group F: Thailand, Hong Kong China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka