Dubai Rugby Sevens turns 40

Dubai : In just five days, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.

To mark this special milestone the organisers of the record-breaking event held a photo competition, encouraging fans and players to send in their favourite photos from the last 40 years of the tournament.

The winner, Charles Smethurst, was selected from several entries received and he won four season tickets to the Sevens and the chance to meet former England captain and Emirates Sports Ambassador, Lawrence Dallaglio.

Smethurst sent in his photos from when he played in the Dubai Rugby Sevens with the Staffordshire Regiment team in 1971.

Organisers of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens have also announced a number of activities where fans will get the chance to rub shoulders with some of the Sevens stars.

On Sunday, November 29, the defending champions, South Africa, will be paying a visit to Ibn Battuta Mall between 3 and 4pm while the England team will be in Dubai Mall (outside Costa Coffee) on Tuesday, December 1 between 5.30 and 6.30pm.

Fans will also have the chance to see the famous Aggreko Dynamos cheerleaders in action in the India Court at Ibn Battuta on both November 30 and December 1, from 6.30pm.

There are also plenty of prizes to be won with the inflatable Passing Challenge game being run at both Dubai Mall and Ibn Battuta Mall as well as the opportunity to meet tournament mascots Scrummy and Saba’a.

Tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens are still available online through www.dubairugby7s.com and through various outlets (listed on the website) and will also be available at the gate.