Australian SVNS stars headline global cast in Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens

The 12th interaction of Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series is set to kick off this weekend, with a significant international flavour set to play out across the four tournaments in 2026.

The Series will see three regular season tournaments played across June and July 2026 in Kumagaya, Tochigi and Kitakyushu, with a grand final tournament set to wrap up the series in Sapporo on August 9th.

The 12-team competition is set to feature sides from all over Japan and feature nearly the entire Japanese sevens side, but several big international signings have added plenty more headlines to the competition in 2026.

Among the biggest names include Aussie 7s stars Mackenzie Davis, Amahlia Hala and Kahli Henwood, who are all set to link up with the Nagato Blue Angels, the three-time defending champions.

The Aussies will be in esteemed company, joined by Japan stars Yume Hirano, Mei Ohtani and Sakurako Yazaki, Fiji 7s star Ana Naimasi, Chinese 7s Olympian Chen Keyi, and Brazil 7s star Bianca Silva in her second year with the club.

“I am very happy and honoured to have the opportunity to return to Nagato Blue Angels for another season,” Silva told RugbyAsia 247.

“Japan has had a profound impact on my career, not only because of winning the championship, but also due to the personal and professional growth I experienced here.”

Their biggest contenders loom in the Mie Pearls, the side signing several big stars of their own in Aussie 7s breakout star Heidi Dennis, GB 7s star Ellie Boatman, and Canada’s Monique Coffey.

They will join the likes of Brazilian stars Thaila Costa and Gabriella Lima, and Japan 7s stars Mio Yamanaka, Michiyo Suda, Mao Higuchi and Natsuzuki Ouchida.

“I’m so excited to be joining the Pearls this summer and be a part of a really exciting group of women,” Boatman added.

“I was so disappointed to be injured last year, so I can’t wait for this amazing opportunity to make some new friends and memories but also play in a very competitive 7’s league in Japan.”

The aforementioned stars represent the tip of the iceberg for nations featured, with Thailand 7s top try scorer Jirawan Chutrakun (Nanairo Prism Fukuoka), Super Rugby Aupiki star Kahlia Awa (Yokohama TKM) and Aussie A 7s Emmisyn Wynyard and Ugandan international Emilly Lekulu (Hokkaido Barbarians Diana) also among the names included.

The competition will feature international and pathway experience across all teams, with several sides, notably Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix and Yokohama TKM also set to field strong teams.

Of note will be a special challenger side, featuring JRFU Sevens Youth Academy players who will are set to form part of the Japan Women’s 7s side in the coming years.

The first tournament in Kumagaya gets underway from 20th-21st June.

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026 Tournament Schedule

• Round 1: Kumagaya – June 20-21, 2026 – Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

• Round 2: Tochigi –  July 11-12, 2026 – Honda Green Heat Stadium, Tochigi

• Round 3: Kitakyushu – July 25-26, 2026 – Mikuni World Stadium

• Grand Final: Sapporo – August 9, 2026 – Daiwa House Premist Dome, Sapporo