2026 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series Wrap-up
The Nagato Blue Angels have been crowned Champions of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series for an unprecedented sixth time following their Grand Final victory over Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix at Daiwa House Premist Dome in Sapporo on Sunday, August 9.
Since its inception in 2014, the Championship of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series was determined by the final team standings based on the cumulative results from across the various tournaments making up the series. Since last year, the series has included a Grand Final Tournament where the top eight ranked teams from the three primary tournaments compete for a spot in a winner-takes-all Grand Final match.
In addition, last year also saw the introduction of a new Challenger Tournament on the opening weekend of the series which in 2026 evolved into a two-round tournament held in May and June in Nagoya and Shizuoka respectively. Alongside the Grand Final Tournament, the top-four placed teams from the Challenger Tournament took part in a promotion-relegation series played against the bottom four ranked teams from the three primary tournaments.
This change in format added the excitement and spectacle of a final round in which eight teams all stood a chance of clinching the Championship. Meanwhile at the other end of the table a thrilling promotion-relegation battle took place that also served as a mechanism to draw in more aspiring and emerging teams from across Japan into this top-flight competition.
Following an exhilarating day of competition featuring 20 matches, the Grand Final was contested between the Nagato Blue Angels and Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix. The Blue Angels, the most successful team in the history of the series having been crowned Champions in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 faced a Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix side that finished sixth last year.
In a closely fought match characterised by hard, straight running and solid defence, there was all to play for at half time with the reigning Champions holding a slim 14-12 lead. In the second half the Blue Angels started to establish their ascendancy, racing out to a 26-12 lead before a late fightback from the Sankyu Phoenix. However, it was too little, too late, with the final score of 26-19 seeing the Blue Angels claim their sixth Championship title and cementing their place in the history of the competition.
Commenting at the conclusion of the tournament, Akane Kagawa, JRFU Director of Women’s Rugby said:
“The 2026 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series has once again shown the growing strength and competitiveness of the women’s game here in Japan. I would like to congratulate the Nagato Blue Angels on an outstanding achievement in winning their sixth Championship title. At the same time, Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix deserve enormous credit for reaching the Grand Final and putting up such a formidable challenge.
“The Grand Final Tournament and the expanded Challenger Tournament have added another dimension to the series. They provide more teams with a genuine pathway into the top level of domestic Sevens, while creating an increasingly competitive environment for our established teams. Seeing teams improve their position from one season to the next is exactly what we want from the series.
“On behalf of the JRFU and the wider Japan rugby family, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Taiyo Seimei Corporation for their longstanding support of Japanese women’s rugby. I would also like to thank our Host Cities, the regional and local rugby unions, the teams, supporters and the many dedicated volunteers whose contribution makes this series possible.”
Fans looking to catch the action from the Grand Final Tournament in Hokkaido can tune into Japan Rugby TV on YouTube. The Grand Final match starts from 7:19:25 on the recording.
Final Tournament Standings
- Nagato Blue Angels (2025 Champions)
- Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Rugby (6th place 2025)
- PEARLS (2025 Runners Up)
- Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars (Promoted in 2025 promotion/relegation series)
- Nanairo Prism Fukuoka (4th place 2025)
- Yokohama TKM (3rd place 2025)
- Nippon Sports Science University Women’s Rugby Club (5th place 2025)
- Arukas Queen Kumagaya Women’s Sevens Rugby Football Club (Promoted in 2025 promotion/relegation series)
Winners in 2026 promotion/relegation series
・Japan University of Economics Women’s Rugby Club AMATERUS
・Hokkaido Barbarians Diana
・JSDF Physical Training School