KUALA NERUS, Nov 14 – The race for the National 7s 2026 title gathered momentum on the opening day, with 34 pool matches producing convincing victories, a surprise defeat for the defending champions and encouraging results for the host state.
Among the standout results was Selangor’s 19-14 victory over reigning champions Kelantan in the Men’s Open category at Stadium Ragbi Tengku Muhammad Ismail on Friday (Nov 13).
The result ended Kelantan’s unbeaten record from last year’s championship and added an unexpected twist to the early stages of the competition.
Selangor Stun Defending Champions Kelantan
Kelantan had earlier looked set for a positive start after registering a 31-point victory against Pahang.
However, Selangor proved a tougher opponent, scoring a try within the opening minute and converting it to take a 7-0 lead. Kelantan fought back to draw level at 7-7 before Selangor regained control in the second half to move ahead 12-7.
Despite Kelantan’s late attempt to turn the match around with another seven points, Selangor secured the 19-14 victory.
The defeat stings all the more given Kelantan arrived in Kuala Nerus as the team to beat, having claimed the 2025 Men’s Open crown with a 17-12 win over Johor in the final.
Johor Emerge as Strong Contenders at National 7s 2026
Johor also emerged as a strong contender after recording two wins, beating Pahang 43-0 and Selangor 24-7.
Last year’s runners-up were drawn in the same pool as Kelantan, Selangor and Pahang, making it one of the most closely watched groups in the Men’s Open competition.
Selangor’s own day was mixed, with their win over Kelantan coming alongside a 24-7 defeat to Johor, while Pahang will look to regroup after heavy losses to both Johor and Kelantan.
Kelantan are now scheduled to face Johor on Saturday in a key pool encounter as they seek to revive their title defence. The fixture is also a rematch of last year’s final.
Terengganu Shine on Home Soil
The home teams also enjoyed encouraging results, particularly in the women’s category, where Terengganu recorded commanding victories against PDRM (52-0) and Melaka (43-0).
Terengganu’s Men’s Open team also remained unbeaten after being held to a 14-14 draw by Kedah, keeping the host state without a defeat in both open categories.
National 7s 2026 Day One Results at a Glance
- Men’s Open: Selangor 19-14 Kelantan
- Men’s Open: Kelantan beat Pahang by 31 points
- Men’s Open: Johor 43-0 Pahang
- Men’s Open: Johor 24-7 Selangor
- Men’s Open: Terengganu 14-14 Kedah
- Women’s Open: Terengganu 52-0 PDRM
- Women’s Open: Terengganu 43-0 Melaka
What’s Next at the National 7s 2026 Championship
With the opening round of pool matches completed, attention now turns to Saturday’s remaining fixtures as teams battle to secure their places in the quarter-finals.
The championship brings together 38 teams across four categories, with 15 sides chasing the Men’s Open title and the newly introduced Amir Amri Cup.
Ahead of the tournament, Malaysia Rugby president Amir Amri Mohammad said the return of several teams, many of which have strengthened their youth development programmes, would make this year’s edition more competitive.
The three-day National 7s 2026 championship at Stadium Ragbi Tengku Muhammad Ismail, Kompleks Sukan Terengganu, will conclude on Sunday. Fans can follow the national sevens scene through Malaysia Rugby.
