The Jordanian Rugby Federation is hosting the Asian Sevens Rugby Championship - Emirates Cup 2026 for the West and Central Asia region, which will be held at Ayla Oasis in Aqaba on Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7 next.
The tournament will witness the participation of 14 national teams representing nine Asian countries, in a sporting event aimed at enhancing the presence of rugby in the region, expanding its practitioner base, and cementing Jordan's position as a destination for hosting regional and continental sports championships.
The tournament includes men's competitions with the participation of nine teams: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan, while the women's competitions include five teams: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
Jordan's hosting of the tournament comes after the Sultanate of Oman apologized for hosting it, as the Jordanian Federation took it upon itself to organize the event in record time, keen to ensure that the competitions are held on schedule, support the sport's journey at the Asian level, and enhance the Kingdom's presence on the map of hosting sports championships.
Federation President, Faisal Al-Sadoun, emphasized that hosting the tournament represents an important milestone in the local journey of the sport, pointing out that since 2022, the federation has worked on preparing the national teams through a specialized program that included intensive external participations, with the aim of raising the readiness of male and female players, in light of infrastructure-related challenges.
He added that the federation hopes to invest in holding the tournament on the Kingdom's soil and among its fans to achieve advanced results, exceeding the previous best achievement of the Jordanian teams, which is reaching the quarterfinals, stressing the importance of audience attendance in supporting the national teams and making this continental event a success.
For his part, the Federation's Secretary-General, Aziz Abu Khalaf, explained that Aqaba was chosen due to its distinguished geographical location, suitable atmosphere, sports facilities, and tourist and hotel services, allowing participating delegations to combine sports competitions and enjoy the tourist potentials that the city abounds in.
He pointed out that the federation looks forward to presenting the tournament as a par excellence sports and family festival, attracting fans and families and encouraging them to get acquainted with the sport of rugby, noting that this hosting represents a first step towards attracting more sports tournaments and events from the Gulf countries, Asia, and Europe, and expanding areas of cooperation with sports federations and tourism entities, which enhances the relationship between sports and tourism and opens horizons for hosting other championships in the future.
Holding the tournament in Aqaba constitutes an opportunity to promote Jordan as a sports and tourism destination, and to benefit from the diversity of its natural and historical elements, from Petra and Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, encouraging delegations and visitors to extend their stay and discover Jordanian tourist destinations.
The tournament also contributes to reviving tourist and economic activity, and enhancing Aqaba's position as a destination for hosting sporting events that combine sports competition, family entertainment, and Jordanian hospitality.
The federation seeks to provide an integrated experience for the participating teams and fans, by organizing the competitions within a sporting and familial atmosphere, and enhancing public interaction and sportsmanship, which cements the presence of the sport locally, supports efforts to develop it and expand its practitioner base, and enhances Jordan's ability to host regional and continental sporting events.
The tournament is held with the support and partnership of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Ayla Oasis, the Jordan Tourism Board, the Jordan Olympic Committee, and Asia Rugby.
