The seven studs

Werner Kok

Named the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year for 2015 following his performances in the last series, Kok was the star of South Africa’s stunning victory in Dubai last December. With the highest number of tackles last season, he is not just a toughie on field but looks one off it – thanks to his plucky frame and signature free-flowing golden locks.

Country: South Africa

Age: 22; Position: Centre/Wing

Height: 1.79m; Weight: 92kg

Tim Mikkelson

World Rugby Sevens Player of 2013, Mikkelson is among the top 20 all-time try scorers in IRB Sevens World Series. With a tally of 150-plus career tries for New Zealand in the IRB Sevens World Series, he is among the top 20 all-time try scorers in the competition. No doubt there will be plenty of him in Dubai this weekend.

Country: New Zealand

Age: 29; Position: Wing

Height: 1.92m; Weight: 103kg

Collins Injera

Often called the Kenyan Lomu, Injera is one of the top career try-scorers of all-time in the World Rugby Sevens World Series. Known for his strength, Injera debuted with the Kenyan team at the 2006 Dubai Sevens. Having also played for the Kenya national rugby union team (15s), Injera is arguably one of his country’s greatest names in the sport today.

Country: Kenya

Age: 29; Position: Wing

Height: 1.86m; Weight: 80kg

Nathan Hirayama

Versatile on the park, Hirayama turns heads for his exotic looks. The youngest to play a test for Canada, he made his debut for the Canadian sevens team in the 2006 Dubai Sevens at 18 before debuting for the Canadian national men’s team against Portugal in Lisbon two years later. A stalwart of the Maple Leafs squad, he and his father are Canada’s first father-son rugby duo.

Country: Canada

Age: 27; Position: Fly-half/Fullback

Height: 1.83m; Weight: 90kg

Madison Hughes

Another young stalwart who marked his arrival to the sevens in 2013 by finishing as the leading scorer for the US in two tournaments that season, Hughes is the young and confident captain of an Eagles squad full of promise. Blessed with a boyish charm and an assured defensive game, the young man commands respect of his peers not for nothing.

Country: USA

Age: 23; Position: Scrumhalf/Fullback

Height: 1.77m; Weight: 79kg

Dan Norton

A mainstay of the Red Rose Sevens side, Norton is among the quickest in the game. He is known for his specialist skills and exceptional pace. A lean and mean machine, he once clocked a personal best of 4.78 seconds for 40 metres, it has been claimed. He can also score - a spree of 52 tries, an England record, in the 2012-13 HSBC Sevens World Series took him to second place behind Ben Gollings (220) in the list of England’s all-time top scorers.

Country: England

Age: 27; Position: Wing/Fullback

Height: 1.82m; Weight: 85kg

Tom Kingston

Kingston not just has the looks but the brains too. Jokingly referred to as the “smartest man in rugby,” he scored 104 out of 100 in his year 12 exams thanks to a personal score of 99 and an extra five points for representing Australia in sport. On the pitch, he is known for his speed and finesse, having been capped five times by the Aussie national U-20 rugby union team. In Dubai, he will be the debutant to watch out for.

Country: Australia

Age: 24; Position: Outside Centre

Height: 1.90m; Weight: 91kg