India Men and Women Ready for Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026: Full Schedule, Squads and Asian Games Challenge
India’s senior men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams are set for a major challenge as the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 begins in Suzhou, China, on August 29.
The opening round of the two-leg series will see both Indian teams take on some of Asia’s strongest rugby nations, providing a crucial test ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
For the Indian men, the competition marks a significant new chapter after earning promotion from the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in 2025. The women, meanwhile, return for their second consecutive season at this level after making impressive progress last year.
The Suzhou round will be followed by the second and final round in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on October 17 and 18, where the overall 2026 champions will be crowned.
India men begin life at Asia’s top level
The Indian senior men’s rugby sevens team enters the 2026 series after securing promotion from the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy last year.
Promotion has given India the opportunity to compete regularly against the continent’s leading Sevens programmes, and Suzhou will be the first major test of how quickly the team can adapt to the higher level.
India have been placed alongside Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore in their pool.
The opening challenge will be particularly demanding, with India facing Japan at 6:36 AM IST on August 29. Japan are among Asia’s most established rugby nations, making the contest an immediate opportunity for the Indian side to measure itself against elite continental opposition.
India will then face the United Arab Emirates at 10:38 AM IST before completing their group-stage schedule against Singapore at 3:02 PM IST.
The condensed nature of Sevens rugby means recovery, squad rotation and consistency will all be critical. Three matches in one day will test not only India's technical ability but also their physical conditioning and mental resilience.
Senior Men’s Head Coach Paul Albaladejo believes the step up is exactly what the programme needs.
“CASA 7s was a strong start to the season, but the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series is a different level. Making our debut at the highest level in Asia is a big challenge, and that is exactly what we want,” Albaladejo said.
“We know we’ll be tested, but we’re ready to step up, compete hard and embrace the opportunity.”
Indian women look to build on 2025 progress
The Indian senior women’s rugby sevens team enters the new season with valuable experience behind it. After finishing 10th overall previously, the Indian women made significant progress in 2025, climbing to sixth place in the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series.
That improvement has created higher expectations heading into 2026. India have been drawn in Group D alongside defending champions Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
Their campaign begins against the UAE at 7:42 AM IST on August 29. The Indian team will then face Iran at 12:06 PM IST before taking on the toughest group-stage challenge against defending champions Japan at 4:52 PM IST.
Facing Japan will provide a major benchmark for the Indian women's programme.
The defending champions represent one of the strongest Sevens setups in Asia, and the match will test India's ability to compete against top-level opposition ahead of the Asian Games. South African Paul Delport continues as the women's head coach for his second season and is targeting further improvement after last year's rise.
“We’ll be aiming to improve on last year’s ranking, while recognising that the teams competing for those positions are world-class,” Delport said. “We know the challenge ahead, and we’re ready to give our best and continue building on the progress we made last year.”
The 2026 series carries additional importance because it comes in the build-up to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The competition will provide both Indian teams with high-performance exposure against many of the opponents they could encounter later in the continental multi-sport event.
Rugby Sevens is a format built around speed, fitness and quick decision-making. The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series will therefore allow the coaching teams to assess combinations, test tactical systems and identify areas that require improvement before the Asian Games.
Rugby India President Rahul Bose described the series as an important platform for both programmes. “The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series is the most important platform for both our teams to rise to be amongst the top few countries in Asia,” Bose said.
“The Women have built a strong foundation from last year, while the Men’s promotion has opened a new chapter for the programme.”
India squads for Suzhou
Mohit Khatri will captain the Indian men’s team, with Sumit Kumar Roy named vice-captain. The squad also includes Ajay, Aryan Satish Dixit, Asis Sabar, Deepak Kumar Punia, Deshraj Singh, Ganesh Dhangada Majhi, Hitesh Dagar, Javed Hussein, Karan Rajbhar, Shivam Shukla and Shridhar Shrikant Nigade.
The women’s team will be led by Shikha Yadav, with Dumuni Marndi serving as vice-captain. Amandeep Kaur, Arti Kumari, Bhumika Shukla, Chanel Crizzle, Guriya Kumari, Kalyani Patil, Mama Naik, Nirmalya Rout, Sandhya Rai, Sandhyarani Tudu and Ujjwala Ghuge complete the squad.
The Suzhou leg is more than just the opening round of a two-tournament series. For the men, it represents their first major opportunity to prove they belong at the highest level of Asian Sevens rugby following promotion. For the women, it is a chance to demonstrate that last year's rise from 10th to sixth was not a one-off and that the programme is ready to challenge even higher.
Both teams will depart India on August 26 and return on August 31 before preparing for the decisive Colombo round in October. The road to the 2026 Asian Games is already underway.
India’s men and women now have the opportunity to test themselves against Asia’s best, gain vital international experience and build momentum for the biggest challenge of the season. Suzhou will provide the first answers. Colombo will decide the champions. And for Indian rugby, 2026 could be a defining year.
India Rugby Sevens Schedule – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026, Suzhou
Date: 29 August | Venue: Suzhou, China
Women’s Team – Group D
7:42 AM IST — India vs UAE
12:06 PM IST — India vs Iran
4:52 PM IST — India vs Japan
Men’s Team – Group B
6:36 AM IST — India vs Japan
10:38 AM IST — India vs UAE
3:02 PM IST — India vs Singapore
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