The 2026 Capital Sevens delivered everything a festival of rugby should, blistering pace, last-gasp drama, and moments of individual brilliance, and the Owls were right in the thick of it across all three draws at the Bungendore Sports Hub.

Hosted by the Bungendore Mudchooks, the tournament brought together the region’s best clubs for a full day of sevens action. With the Owls fielding sides in Premier Men’s, Women’s Division, and Men’s Division 2, it was a massive showing from the club, and the Women’s side in particular gave everyone plenty to talk about.

Women’s Division

The standout story of the day from an Owls perspective was the Women’s Grand Final, a match that had everything. In a rematch of the 2025 BentSpoke Premier 15s Grand Final, the Owls went toe-to-toe with the Wests Lionesses in a contest that went right down to the wire.

Leading for the bulk of the match, the Owls looked set to claim the title. But with the clock winding down, Wests’ Merania Paraone hauled her side back within striking distance, and in a frantic final sequence the Lionesses turned the ball over and shifted it quickly to the blindside where Allie Booker sprinted down the touchline to dot down, sealing a gut-wrenching 22–21 victory for Wests.

It’s a result that will sting, but there was no shortage of pride to be taken from the performance. Owls’ Charlise Cleary was simply outstanding throughout the day, crossing for six tries and racking up 34 points to claim the Women’s Player of the Tournament award. A dominant, world-class display.

Premier Men’s

In the Premier Men’s draw, the Owls came up against a Tuggeranong Vikings side that proved why they’re the benchmark in the sevens format. The Vikings claimed back-to-back Capital Sevens titles with a 31–21 victory over the Gungahlin Eagles in the final.

A Day to Build On

Two of the three Finals on the day were decided by a single point in the dying moments, a testament to the quality of rugby on show across all divisions. The Owls Women’s side pushed the competition’s best team all the way to the final whistle, and Charlise Cleary’s Player of the Tournament performance is the kind of form that bodes well for the season ahead.

A huge thank you to the Bungendore Mudchooks for hosting a fantastic event, and to all the officials and volunteers who made the day run seamlessly.

Eyes now turn to the 2026 BentSpoke John I Dent Cup season, kicking off 11 April. The Owls are ready.

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Sources: Speed, Sweat & Silverware: The 2026 Capital Sevens Storms Bungendore | Sevens Sensations: Vikings, Lionesses and Whites Claim Capital 7s Honours — ACT Rugby