Asian Games sevens fixtures confirmed ahead of critical step to Olympics

The 2026 Asian Games – the 20th iteration of the sporting event – is set to kick off in Japan in October, marking a critical juncture for sevens sides in the region.

With the final confirmed list of teams and pools drawn late last week, the Asian Games marks a critical fixture for unions in the region, the event marking a major stop on the way to the Olympics, both for on-field performances and being linked to funding from respective Olympic committees off the field.

The event will form part of a busy two months of sevens action in the region, falling in between two legs of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series taking place in the Chinese city of Suzhou (29th-30th August) and Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo (17th-18th October).

Set to be held in Aichi & Nagoya, Japan on 1st-3rd October 2026, the rugby sevens part of the Asian Games will feature eight women’s teams and 12 men’s teams, the action taking place at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium.

The 2026 iteration is set to be the most competitive yet, with nearly every single team having had both domestic and international events in preparation for the event.

2022 men’s gold medalists Hong Kong China is set to play in Pool A alongside China, Malaysia and Uzbekistan, the side having recently completed a camp in Portugal and participated in the UK LIT7s tournament following playing in the Hong Kong Sevens.

They will face stiff competition in China, who have played in several European tournaments, while Uzbekistan will loom as a surprise underdog, fresh off their appearance in the CASA 7s in May 2026.

Pool B will see 2022 silver medalists South Korea and bronze medalists Japan go head-to-head, the latter having taken part in both domestic camps and in the Melrose Claymores in Hong Kong back in April, being joined by Thailand and Kazakhstan.

The wildcard team to watch will be in Pool C in Sri Lanka, the men’s side having played in the CASA 7s, the LIT7s and other European tournaments and their program having advanced in leaps and bounds off the field in the last year.

They will be joined by the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and the Philippines, completing the leading Asian nations in the shorter format of rugby.

The women’s tournament will see two pools, with 2022 gold medalists China set to be favourites in Pool B, going head-to-head with bronze medalists Hong Kong China, who have competed at the Melrose Claymores, played tournaments in China and travelled to Europe.

The pool will also feature Malaysia and India, the latter set to be a wildcard side following their appearance at the CASA 7s.

2022 silver medalists Japan are likely set to also be a heavyweight contender, the side fresh off a season in the HSBC SVNS Series and the Taiyo Women’s Sevens Series.

They will have several tricky opponents to overcome, with Thailand having also taken part in the Melrose Claymores and completed a camp in New Zealand, while Kazakhstan and Singapore completing the pool.

Asian Games 2026 Rugby 7s Pools

Men’s Pools

Pool A: Hong Kong China, China, Malaysia, Uzbekistan

Pool B: Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Kazakhstan

Pool C: Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Philippines

Women’s Pools

Pool A: Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore

Pool B: China, Hong Kong China, India, Malaysia