The Dubai Rugby 7s is definitely on course as part of the IRB Series next year as well.

A final decision on the IRB calendar for next year will be taken within a few weeks when the board meets.

"The contracts for all venues will come up for review and we will have to seriously look at these afresh. We will also have to consider many other venues who are looking forward to hosting the sevens," said Mark Egan, IRB Sevens Manager.

Egan - a first-time visitor at the event - admitted he was "impressed with the hosting of the tournament in Dubai."

"Both the organisation and the rugby is excellent here," Egan smiled. "We're obviously only too keen to continue this fantastic partnership with the sponsors and organisers here," Egan added.

As per indications, the IRB board is scheduled to meet at the end of this month and have the calendar ready by the first week of January.

Though Dubai has already handed over two separate dates for hosting next year's tournament, the IRB official related that the board will first have to review the best options for hosting the event.

"The calendar can get so cramped up with the European Cup, the Tri-Nations and the Six-Nation tournaments. So we will have to sit down and see where best Dubai can fit in," Egan said.

"However, let me state that Dubai is a very important part of our plan for the development of the game in the region. Dubai has been very good for the series and the series has been good for Dubai as well," the IRB official assured.

Cashing in an unprecented flourish in the popularity of rugby, the IRB is seriously considering the widening of the game.

"It's amazing to see the growing popularity of the sport all over the world," remarked Egan.

With such a build-up many new destinations have shown their interest in staging rounds on the circuit. Prominent among these are Las Vegas and New York in the U.S., as also a venues in Canada.

"Shanghai (China) and George (South Africa) are going to be new destinations altogether, while Hong Kong and Singapore continue being popular destinations this side of the globe," Egan stated.

"There are a lot of places we can go to. But we will have to be very careful in taking up these partners as we would like to first consider the economic viability."

One of the main objectives of the IRB, Egan stated, was to conduct Satellite circuits in places like Africa, Asia and pockets of Europe. "This will help in spreading the game. We're working in this area and hopefully, the circuit should be on by next season," Egan hoped.

Egan discarded the idea of hosting an additional leg of the IRB series in the Gulf region in the near future.

"Doha and Bahrain have good facilities. But they've not made a move. We also do not have any plans to venture in this region in the distant future," the IRB official said.

Gary Chapman, Chief Director Support and Development, Emirates airline, revealed that they have expressed their willingness to host the tournament either at the end of Ramadan or the week after Ramadan.

"Last year, we had a few unique hurdles to overcome," Chapman said hinting at the exclusion of the Dubai leg from the IRB Sevens circuit.

"However, the event has been the biggest so far for us this year. And we will be looking at ways to bring in more people and make the tournament bigger and better next year," Chapman promised.