SANDAKAN: The Borneo Sevens Rugby Tournament 2026 kicks off today (Saturday) at the Eagles Rugby Club Stadium here, bringing together 14 teams from eight countries for two days of high-intensity rugby action.
Dubbed “The Greenest 7s in the World,” the tournament will feature eight men’s teams and six women’s teams from Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, all competing for the prestigious Borneo 7s Cup.
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Matches will run throughout both days, culminating in the finals on April 12.
In the men’s division, competing teams include Borneo Eagles, Uzbekistan Rugby, Kazakhstan Rugby, Nationwide Nadi 7s (Australia), Fizzapapa’s Belgium Rugby 7s, BR7s Development Squad, Malaysian University and DKI Jakarta.
The women’s division will see participation from Borneo Flyers, BAC Singapore, DKI Jakarta, Onsoi Fusion, Eagles RFC Select (Philippines) and Uzbekistan Rugby.
Adding further excitement to this year’s tournament is the inclusion of Malaysia’s national development programme, Bunga Raya 7s Development Squad (BR7s Development), as well as the presence of notable international figures.
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Among them is former Fiji 7s player Alasio Naduva, who will feature for Nationwide Nadi 7s, while former All Blacks Sevens player Rocky Khan takes on the role of head coach for both Borneo Eagles and Borneo Flyers.
Eagles Rugby Club President Velayuthan Tan said preparations are complete, with all teams having arrived ahead of the tournament.
“The teams are here, the pitch is ready and the energy is building. We want the people of Sandakan to come out, fill the stands and show the world what Borneo rugby is all about,” he said.
Fans who are unable to attend can watch all matches live via the Eagles Rugby Club’s Facebook and YouTube channels across both days.
The finals on April 12 will also be broadcast live on Astro Sports Plus from 3pm to 6pm.
