Event Goal

The Borneo Sevens has been a showcase event in the Malaysia rugby tournament circuit and in this region for over 20 years. Although it has now stepped into its 3^rd decade of existence, the passion, dedication and hard work of the organizers (Eagles Rugby Club Sandakan) have not shown any sign of letting up. In fact, the tournament has grown to an event with a strong fan base of local and even international supporters. As we mark the 21^st Anniversary of the event this year, plans are afoot to take another giant leap forward – the start of a new journey to create a more energized, inclusive and festive Borneo 7s that will appeal to a wider audience of rugby enthusiasts.

More emphasis for the 2026 event will be placed on “Going Green” in a practical and sustainable manner relative to the daily way of life of the community.

The Borneo Sevens 2026 is set to inaugurate an engaging week of activities preceding the primary event. The program will commence with Rugby Clinics scheduled for early in the week, succeeded by age-grade events and possibly followed by the Classic 10s for men veterans.  The week will culminate in the captivating International Borneo Sevens taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Needless to say, the closing curtain will be a get-together celebration of all participants for a drinking and feasting session to strengthen the bonds of friendship that has developed over the last 20 years.  

Spectators can look forward to more than just exciting rugby matches. There will be a carnival to attract more visitors running concurrently with the Borneo 7s. Participating vendors and sponsors will have the opportunity to bolster their brand awareness and engage with visitors to the tournament.  It would also be a golden opportunity for participating vendors to try their skills at doing business and contribute to the local economy. We are targeting and encouraging the younger generation to use the carnival as a platform to launch their businesses although the older generation of businessmen are also equally welcome to take part.

The tournament and carnival are expected to double the number of visitors from the previous games with a comprehensive programme of events and activities.

At least twenty teams (12 men & 8 women teams) are expected to participate in the tournament. They include teams from Australia, New Zealand, Uzbekistan, China, UAE, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and hosts Malaysia. The local teams are expected to be strengthened by professional guest players from foreign countries, especially Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.   

The tournament is an internationally recognized event sanctioned by ASIA RUGBY, Malaysia Rugby and Sabah Rugby Union.

Well-known local and international rugby personalities will be invited to attend the tournament to inspire new talents and generate media publicity of the event. In fact, over the years, quite a number of rugby stars, such as several All Blacks and Black Fern players from New Zealand, have taken part in the tournament.

News Coverage have been done by MYTV, RTM Sukan, TM Unifi Sports and Astro Arena.

Big Belly Media’s Youtube and Facebook Live streaming have been brought in large numbers of viewers in 2025 and are projected to increase even greater numbers in 2026.   

Influencers have been engaged to publicize and promote the event and are expected to bring in another 1 Million followers.

Compared to 6.47 million viewers in 2025, we are confident we will get around 10 million this year.

International media outlets have been extended invitations to provide extensive coverage on the games and spotlight the event on a global scale.