Fun and games at the Dubai Rugby Sevens

Dubai: The Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens started their 40th anniversary celebrations with the usual flair and style, though the connoisseurs of the game will have to wait till today for the big boys to take the centre stage for the showpiece event.

With the last week or so generating a bit of negative publicity about the emirate in a section of the world media, it was left to the Sevens rugby family from the world all over to converge at the Sevens and kick off what is — apart from being the season opener of the World Series — the largest one of its kind.

"As you can see, it's business as usual for us," said Gary Chapman, President, Group Services and Dnata, Emirates Group and the livewire of the event.

Even though it was a working day, one could make out that the party had already begun at the sprawling Sevens complex since the morning. "Ladies and gentlemen, as the UAE is now celebrating its 38th birthday, we are celebrating our 40th one," the announcer on the public address system did not fail to make the point.

Asked if the landmark meant anything special to him, Chapman told Gulf News: "There is plenty to celebrate as the tournament has come a long way from the days of playing on sandy pitches and a perfect beginning has been made today. If the weather holds up, we can look forward to yet another great event."

On the field, all of the 11 sideshow events kicked off with gusto and quite expectedly, it witnessed a wide range of contests. While some of them were hopelessly one-sided, quite a few witnessed enough intense battles which would have made even the pros proud of.

While the Gulf Men's contests were billed for later in the day, the International Invitation category saw some high quality action in the afternoon. Fighting for the top spot in Group C, the International Marauders from England and New Zealand Legends were locked in a fierce battle to finish at 21-21. Both look a certainty for the quarterfinal stages which begin today.