By Julian Linden, OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, October 2, 2026: Host nation Japan and defending champions China remained on a collision course for a blockbuster ending to the women’s rugby 7s at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Friday.
The two regional powerhouses have met in the last three Asian Games gold medal matches - with each final ending in a thriller decided by two points or fewer.
And they were once again on track for a fourth straight showdown after topping their groups on another perfect sunny day at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Rugby Field.
Japan finished unbeaten in Pool D after defeating Thailand 34-5 with replacement back Honoka Tsutsumi scoring two runaway tries after being injected into the play in the second half.
With just eight teams entered, the best two teams from each group advanced directly to the semifinals.
Getting better each day, the Japanese will face Hong Kong, China in the semis.
“In our first match, we were a little nervous due to playing at home, but after the second match, we successfully did what we wanted to do. We addressed some problems from the first day, and there was great attack and defence,” Japan captain Michiyo Suda said.
“Our main issue on day one was at the breakdown, where we struggled to get the ball even after good tackles. We made a conscious effort to improve our decision-making, speed up and ensure every player gets involved in the play two or three times. This shift in mindset allowed us to connect passes and maintain continuous support.
“This tournament is the second year of our new setup and we are targeting the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. We are spending two years testing ourselves against top international teams, and this home tournament provides a special place to promote and introduce rugby sevens to a wider audience.”
China had to work a little harder to finish top of Pool E but got the job done with a 24-10 victory over Hong Kong, China with captain Dou Xinrong and back Can Chen both crossing the tryline twice.
China was drawn to face Thailand in the semis.
