Oceania Rugby has cancelled the 2026 Oceania Rugby Sevens Cup planned for Rotorua on 31 October and 1 November.
“This is not the outcome anyone wanted, and I’m sorry for the disappointment it causes our players, teams, fans and the Rotorua community,” Puletua said on Friday.
“We pursued every option to deliver this tournament. When it became clear we could not secure the funding needed in the time available, the responsible decision was not to proceed.
“Our focus now is on looking after the teams, ticket holders and partners affected, and on securing a qualification pathway for our players.”
The 2026 Oceania Rugby 7s Cup was also scheduled to provide the regional qualification pathway for eligible Oceania men’s and women’s teams to the World Rugby SVNS 3 – third-tier – event.
Puletua said they have been unable to secure the funding required to deliver the event within the available timeframe, even though key stakeholders, including World Rugby, had made funding commitments in full.
“With the tournament only weeks away and significant financial and operational commitments now required to proceed, Oceania Rugby has made the difficult but responsible decision not to proceed… rather than take on further commitments without the funding certainty to meet them,” he said.
“This decision has not been made lightly. We recognise the significant planning, preparation and commitment that has already gone into bringing international sevens rugby to Rotorua.”
He acknowledged the work undertaken by RotoruaNZ and its local partners in preparing to host the tournament.
But he is hopeful that Rotorua will still put their hands up to host the 2027 event.
“Oceania Rugby understands the disappointment this cancellation will cause and sincerely appreciates the commitment and support shown by everyone involved.”
Puletua said they are now working with World Rugby to establish a fair and transparent qualification pathway for SVNS 3, recognising its significance within the Olympic pathway.
