KUALA LUMPUR – The ninth edition of the Johor 7s returns this weekend with 24 teams from four countries set to compete, as the tournament continues to strengthen its standing as one of Southeast Asia’s premier rugby sevens competitions.
A total of 24 teams, comprising 16 men’s teams and eight women’s teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand will compete at Johor Rugby Stadium in Mount Austin from tomorrow to Sunday.
The men’s competition will see defending champions Singapore Development return to defend their crown against a strong field that includes the national Bunga Raya 7s Development side and Johor-based outfits Iskandar Raiders, Johor Barbarian, SSTMI Tsunami and UTM Pirates.
They will also face regional challengers such as Indonesia’s DKI Jakarta and Thailand’s All For One and Thaksin University.
The women’s competition will feature eight teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia vying for the title.
Johor Rugby Union president Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the tournament had evolved into an important platform for nurturing rugby talent while elevating the sport’s profile across the region.
“Johor 7s is more than just a rugby tournament. It is an important platform for the development of the sport at both grassroots and elite levels.
“It is not just about the competition. Our main objective is to make rugby more accessible and encourage greater participation throughout Johor.
“The participation of teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand shows Johor 7s has continued to grow into a respected and highly competitive tournament in the region.
“We are proud that it continues to attract both local and international teams, and we expect three days of exciting and closely contested matches,” he told Scoop when contacted.
A total prize purse of RM12,000 is on offer. The men’s champions will receive RM5,000, with the runners-up taking home RM2,500, while the women’s champions will earn RM3,000 and the runners-up RM1,500.
Now in its ninth edition, Johor 7s has established itself as one of Malaysia’s leading rugby sevens tournaments, regularly attracting clubs and development sides from across Southeast Asia while providing local players with valuable exposure against quality regional opposition. – July 2, 2026