Asia Rugby Growth Conference 2026 Set for Fukuoka

The fifth Asia Rugby Growth Conference will bring rugby leaders from across the region together in Fukuoka in 2026, creating a two-day forum focused on collaboration, participation and practical development planning. Held under the theme, “Connecting Asia, Inspiring Growth, Shaping the Future of Rugby,” the conference is designed to help national unions share priorities and identify ways to grow the game across Asia.

The event continues an established regional platform for Asia Rugby Member Unions to exchange knowledge and discuss common development challenges. Its stated aim is to move conversations beyond broad ambitions and towards plans that can strengthen union structures, expand participation and create more opportunities for people across the region to experience rugby.

Regional unions set to share development priorities

The working participant roster includes representatives from 27 national unions, accounting for 37 union delegate entries. Four representatives each from Asia Rugby and World Rugby bring the core roster to 45 participants, while Japan Rugby Football Union representatives, speakers, panellists and support personnel are also expected to contribute.

Attendance figures remain subject to final travel confirmation, but the planned representation underlines the conference’s role as a regional meeting point. The programme will give delegates from countries and territories across Asia the opportunity to present their own development priorities, hear experiences from other unions and explore areas where joint work may be possible.

Workshops, presentations and group discussions will form the central structure of the two-day gathering. Rather than centring on competition results, the conference is intended to provide a working space for unions to compare approaches, discuss shared issues and build connections that can support the long-term growth of rugby.

The agenda will cover World Rugby’s development and participation priorities, as well as operational planning. Delegates will also discuss T1 Rugby, women’s rugby pathways, the Try Together Program and development calendars. Those subjects place participation and organisation at the centre of the event, with national unions able to consider how regional priorities can be translated into their own programmes.

Japan Rugby Football Union’s Asian Scrum Project will also be included in the discussions. The programme additionally features youth leadership and union development initiatives, broadening the focus from participation alone to the structures and people needed to support sustained growth.

From discussion to action across Asian rugby

The conference’s central purpose is to turn the exchange of ideas into action. Asia Rugby has identified stronger union structures, wider participation and more opportunities to engage with rugby as key outcomes for the gathering. By bringing representatives together, the event offers a setting for participants to address challenges that may be shared across different countries and territories while retaining space for each union’s individual priorities.

For the unions involved, the value of the Fukuoka meeting lies in the chance to connect regional objectives with practical planning. Sessions on operational planning and development calendars can support clearer coordination, while discussions around women’s pathways, youth leadership and T1 Rugby can help delegates examine routes to broaden access to the sport.

The 2026 edition also reinforces the continuity of the Asia Rugby Growth Conference as a recurring platform. As its fifth staging, it builds on the stated commitment to knowledge-sharing and collaboration among Member Unions. The message behind the programme is straightforward: regional progress depends on unions working together, learning from one another and applying those discussions in their own communities.

With representatives from 27 national unions on the working roster, the Fukuoka conference is set to place development at the forefront of Asian rugby’s agenda. Its outcome will be measured by the practical steps unions take to support participation, improve structures and help shape the future of the game across the region.