Dubai: The International Rugby Board (IRB) has confirmed the pool draw for round two of the HSBC Sevens World Series, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens on December 1 to 3.
The draw was made live on television before the Cup final of the Gold Coast Sevens, the opening round of the 2011/12 season.
As Gold Coast winners, Fiji top pool A in Dubai and face matches against Samoa, Argentina and hosts, the UAE.
New Zealand, runners-up in Australia, head pool B and will play the USA and Portugal before a mouth-watering clash with South Africa.
Pool C comprises two European heavyweights France and England and two African nations, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Wales head Pool D and will play Scotland in pool play for a second week in succession, as well as Australia and Canada.
Following their win on the Gold Coast, Fiji have a lead in the HSBC Sevens World Series. They currently lie on 22 points ahead of New Zealand (19), South Africa (17), Australia (15) and Wales (13).
GROUPINGS
Pool A
- Fiji
- Samoa
- Argentina
- United Arab Emirates
Pool B
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United States
- Portugal
Pool C
- France
- England
- Kenya
- Zimbabwe
Pool D
- Wales
- Australia
- Scotland
- Canada
WORLD SERIES STANDINGS
1 Fiji 22
2 New Zealand 19
3 South Africa 17
4 Australia 15
5 Wales 13
6 Samoa 12
7 England 10
8 France 10
9 Argentina 8
10 Scotland 7
11 Tonga 5
12 United States 5
13 Papua New Guinea 3
14 Japan 2
15 Kenya 1
16 Niue 1