Dubai: Jill Conlon is Tournament Manager for the invitational tournaments that contribute to the Dubai Rugby Sevens' overall appeal. The following are excerpts from her interview with Gulf News.
Gulf News: What is your role at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens?
Jill Conlon: My role is that of Tournament Manager for the Invitational Tournament, that is, the non-IRB tournament. It would be impossible to try to summarise my role into a few sentences, however, suffice it to say that I oversee the preparation prior to the event and the smooth running of the invitational tournament while the event is taking place. I have a huge team of support staff and my job would be impossible without them.
What do you think makes the tournament so popular that the available spaces for invitational teams get filled up so quickly?
The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament is hugely popular because it is a three-day festival of rugby. It is unique in that respect and no other IRB series event is supported in this manner.
As a result it's a real family affair and the atmosphere is reflective of that. Because this tournament has been taking place annually for 40 years, it now has a cult following. Many teams return year after year to settle old scores, meet old friends and make new ones.
The Dubai Rugby Sevens is also a hugely sociable event and that's why it sells out so quickly. It's not just attractive to rugby players and supporters. The tournaments are easy to follow and everyone will know someone who is playing so it's a very personal tournament in that respect.
How many teams are there competing in the various other tournaments apart from the 16 international sides in the IRB Sevens World Series?
There are 160 teams competing.
Which team is travelling the farthest to get here?
That would have to be the USA Women competing in the International Invitation Women's section of the tournament.
How many women's sides are there competing this year?
There are 10 international women's sides and 12 club sides.
What are some of the strangest requests or questions you've had from teams?
I get a lot of funny requests, the most common from the teams being that I allow an under-age guy to play in a vets competition, that is, a competition intended solely for those over 35 years. Players are always looking to massage the rules!
