Sakura Sevens Announce Roster and Schedule for HSBC SVNS 2026 Dubai Tournament
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The Japan Rugby Football Union is sending its Women’s Sevens National Team, known as the Sakura Sevens, to compete in the HSBC SVNS 2026 Dubai Tournament, taking place November 29th and 30th in the United Arab Emirates. The team’s roster and first-day match schedule have been released, signaling the start of their campaign in the prestigious tournament.
Preparing for Competition in Dubai
The Japan Rugby Football Union, led by President Masato Tsuchida, confirmed the event will be held in Dubai, UAE, from Saturday, November 29th, through Sunday, November 30th. The Sakura Sevens are poised to compete against some of the world’s top teams in the HSBC SVNS 2026 series. Fans can follow the action on RUGBY PASS TV, with free registration required for viewing: https://www.rugbypass.tv/home. Detailed tournament information is also available at https://www.svns.com/ja/fixtures-and-results/dubai/matches.
Sakura Sevens: Registered Players and Experience
The squad boasts a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. The full roster of registered players for the HSBC SVNS 2026 Dubai Tournament is as follows:
- Chiaki Saegusa (32 caps)
- Honohana Tsutsumi (36 caps)
- Marin Kajiki (31 caps)
- Harunako Utsumi (20 caps)
- Mei Otani (32 caps)
- Kana Nagata (33 caps)
- Matsuda Sunflower (6 caps)
- Yume Hirano (48 caps)
- Natsuki Ouchida (1 cap)
- Michiyo Suda (21 caps)
- Sakura Mizutani (22 caps)
- Sakurako Yazaki (8 caps)
- Haruyuki Yamada (0 caps)
Haruyuki Yamada has been named captain for the tournament, despite being the newest member of the team with zero previous caps. A senior official stated that the team will register 12 players for each match – seven starters and five reserves – from the larger pool of 13 registered for the entire tournament.
Day One Match Schedule: Facing Tough Competition
The Sakura Sevens will face a challenging schedule on the first day of the tournament, November 29th. All times listed below are local Dubai time, with the equivalent Japan time in parentheses.
- Pool B – 1st Match: 11:42 (16:42 JST) vs. Australian Women’s National Team
- Pool B – 2nd Match: 14:43 (19:43 JST) vs. Women’s British Representative
- Pool B – Round 3: 17:49 (22:49 JST) vs. Canada Women’s National Team
The team will need to demonstrate resilience and strategic play to advance through the pool stages. .
The Sakura Sevens’ participation in the HSBC SVNS 2026 Dubai Tournament marks a significant step in their preparation for future international competitions, and fans eagerly await their performance on the world stage.
