2026 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series Confirmed
Following the success of the expanded format of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series in 2025, the JRFU is delighted to announce a further expansion in 2026, with the introduction of a second Challenger Tournament weekend to kick off the series.
First played in 2014, the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series has grown into one of the major events on the domestic women’s rugby calendar and is a key pillar in the development and promotion of the women’s game in Japan.
In 2025, the series saw two major developments to its existing format. The first being the introduction of a new Challenger Tournament held prior to the main competition, while the second was the launch of a one-day, winner-takes-all Grand Final tournament to cap off the series.
By introducing the Challenger Tournament, the competition has become accessible to a much wider group of players, presenting a pathway for emerging sevens sides from across Japan to be exposed to this high-level competition. It also gives them the opportunity and incentive to graduate into the top-tier of the series where they will face Japan’s elite sevens sides.
The Grand Final format introduces two separate and exciting elements. Firstly, it contains a promotion-relegation competition at the front end of the day in which, depending on the final standings of each earlier competition, sees either the top third or fourth ranked teams from the Challenger Tournament face off against the bottom third or fourth ranked teams from the main competition. This is then followed by the Grand Final play-offs in which the top eight ranked teams battled it out for a spot in the Grand Final match.
The one significant change in format for 2026 will see the Challenger Tournament grow from last year’s single tournament, into a two-tournament competition held across separate weekends in Nagoya and Shizuoka. This development provides even more opportunity for emerging teams to be exposed to this high-level competition.
“The Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series continues to play a vital role in the development of the women’s game in Japan and remains one of our key growth drivers. With the launch last year of the Grand Final Tournament and the promotion–relegation format adding further intensity to the final weekend, this year’s competition is sure to be just as compelling,” said Akane Kagawa, JRFU Director of Women’s Rugby.
“Since its launch in 2014, the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Seven Series has provided a national platform for top players from across Japan to compete at the highest level. The competition is central not only to the advancement of sevens rugby but also serves as an important pathway for identifying athletes capable of progressing into our elite Fifteens programmes.
“Providing well-organised, high-quality competitions is crucial to strengthening the performance of our national teams in both Sevens and Fifteens. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Taiyo Seimei Corporation for their ongoing commitment to the women’s game in Japan, as well as to the regional and local unions and the army of volunteers whose efforts are vital for the success of this outstanding series.”
Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2026:
・ Two Challenger Tournaments to kick-off the series
・ Three regular tournaments – Kumagaya, Tochigi and Kitakyushu, culminating in a Grand Final Tournament in Sapporo
・ 12 core teams (The eight top-ranked teams form the 2025 series and four teams that were successful in the 2025 promotion-relegation series)
・ Eight top-ranked teams to fight for a spot in a winner-takes-all Grand Final
・ Bottom-four ranked teams to face the top-four ranked teams from the Challenger Tournament in promotion-relegation series played alongside the Grand Final Tournament
Series Schedule:
Challenger Tournament Round One – Nagoya
May 16 & 17, 2026
Venue: Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Nagoya
Challenger Tournament Round Two – Shizuoka
June 13 & 14, 2026
Venue: ECOPA Stadium, Shizuoka
Tournament One – Kumagaya
June 20 & 21, 2026
Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Tournament Two – Tochigi
July 11 & 12, 2026
Venue: Honda Green Heat Stadium, Tochigi
Tournament Three – Kitakyushu
July 25 & 26, 2026
Venue: Mikuni World Stadium
Grand Final Tournament – Sapporo
August 9, 2026
Venue: Daiwa House Premist Dome, Sapporo
12 Core Teams & (2025 Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series Result)
・ Nagato Blue Angels (1st)
・ PEARLS (2nd)
・ Yokohama TKM (3rd)
・ Nanairo Prism Fukuoka (4th)
・ Nippon Sports Science University Women’s Rugby Club (5th)
・ Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Rugby Club (6th)
・ Hokkaido Barbarians Diana (7th)
・ JSDF Physical Training School (8th)
・ Yokogawa Musahino Artemi-Stars (1st in promotion/relegation series)
・ Arukas Queen Kumagaya Women’s Sevens Rugby Football Club (2nd in promotion/relegation series)
・ Otemon Gakuin Rugby Club VENUS (3rd in promotion/relegation series)
・ Challenge Team (4th in promotion/relegation series)
*The teams participating in the Challenger Tournament will be announced at a later date.
