Hong Kong China and Japan chase Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series titles in Colombo finale

Hong Kong China and Japan arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as the clear frontrunners to claim the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series titles this weekend, with the final leg of the 2026 edition set to crown both the men’s and women’s champions.

The series opened in August in Suzhou, where both sides underlined their pedigree as defending champions. Japan’s Sakura Sevens, the only SVNS Series-qualified team in the women’s draw, were ruthless throughout — dismantling Uzbekistan 59–0 in the quarterfinals and Thailand 26–10 in the semifinals before defeating hosts China 24–7 in the final. China had been remarkable in reaching the decider without conceding a single point in the pool stages and knockouts, yet Japan’s quality ultimately told.

In the men’s competition, Hong Kong China were equally commanding. After progressing through their pool unscathed, they beat Malaysia and Korea to reach the final, where they overcame Japan 19–7. Japan had themselves impressed, defeating Sri Lanka 17–0 in the quarterfinals and China 36–5 in the semifinals. China claimed bronze with a 24–19 win over Korea.

The series then paused in September to accommodate the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, where Hong Kong China, Japan and China again dominated both tournaments. Attention now turns to Colombo — a familiar and well-regarded host, having previously staged events in 2019 before returning to the circuit last year — for the final weekend of regional sevens action before the HSBC SVNS Series begins in Dubai in November.

Beyond the titles themselves, SVNS 3 qualification places are also at stake, adding further incentive for teams outside the top tier. Should Japan win the women’s title, the SVNS 3 berth would pass to the next highest-placed team not already qualified for the SVNS Series or SVNS 2, keeping the competition meaningful deep into the draw.

While Hong Kong China and Japan are the expected favourites, China and Thailand have shown enough across the series to pose a genuine threat, with both nations still harbouring ambitions of higher qualification regardless of whether they lift the trophy.