Dubai: The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, part of the now nine-leg 2011/12 HSBC Sevens World Series, will be taking place from December 1-3 and unlike previous years Dubai is now the second event on tour behind Australia. A fixtures announcement was made yesterday by the International Rugby board (IRB) 100 days before the new series kicks-off.
Japan is the ninth venue to be added to the new-look 13th annual tour and will take place March 31 — April 1 2012, between the schedule of more long-standing venues such as South Africa, New Zealand, the USA, England, Scotland, Australia and Hong Kong. Since the Series' inception in 1999, New Zealand's national sevens outfit has lifted the trophy nine times, Fiji, South Africa and Samoa meanwhile have won it once each.
A good show in Borneo and Shanghai on the Asian Seven circuit from the newly-formed UAE side, born out of the break-up of the regional collective Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, will determine if the UAE will be present or not in Dubai. The event will be held at The Sevens Stadium and tickets will be sold from early October. All information can be found at dubairugby7s.com.
Expands parameters
Meanwhile, the expansion to Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Stadium for round seven, one week after the renowned Hong Kong Sevens, has been lauded as another major boost to Asian Rugby as the sport expands its usual parameters. Asian Rugby has witnessed an 18 per cent increase in participants since World Cup 2007 and with the continent building towards Japan's hosting of the 2019 competition, all eyes are on the Far East.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "I am delighted that Tokyo is joining the international roster of tournaments that comprise the record-breaking HSBC Sevens World Series, which last season was watched in 147 countries in 16 languages. I am sure that the Japan Rugby Football Union will host a successful and popular event that Japan, Asia and the global Rugby family will be proud of."
"These are extremely exciting times for Rugby in Asia, where interest in Rugby has been boosted by Japan securing hosting rights for Rugby World Cup 2019 and Olympic inclusion."
World Series schedule
Round 1 - November 25-26 - Australia
Round 2 - December 1-3 - Dubai
Round 3 - December 9-10 - South Africa
Round 4 - February 3-4 - New Zealand
Round 5 - February 10-12 - USA
Round 6 - March 23-25 - Hong Kong
Round 7 - March 31 - April 1 - Japan
Round 8 - May 5-6- Scotland
Round 9 - May 12-13- England
