The pools and schedules have been announced for the first two events in the 2005/06 IRB Sevens series, in Dubai and George, South Africa.
Top rating Sevens teams from around the world will first battle for the Emirates Airline International Trophy at the Dubai Exiles Ground in Dubai on 1 and 2 December 2005.
The tournament, now in its 36th year, once again kick-starts the new season and has become the biggest sporting event in the Middle Eastern region with over 60,000 fans expected to roll through the gates during the two days of international action.
Number one seeds New Zealand top Pool A and will face France, Canada and the Arabian Gulf. Fiji, which finished second in the 2004/05 series last season, tops Pool B and will play Samoa, Tunisia and Wales, which is back on the circuit following a two season absence.
England won the tournament last year and with newly appointed Assistant Coach Phil Greening, will begin its Dubai title defence against Australia, Kenya and Uganda in Pool C. In a tough Pool D South Africa will face Argentina, Scotland and Portugal.
The following weekend the sides will be in the arid heat of George on South Africa's stunning Garden Route for the second tournament of the season, the Emirate Airlines South Africa Sevens.
Top seed New Zealand again tops Pool A and will face Argentina, Kenya and Wales. Fiji again top Pool B but in George play Australia, Scotland and Namibia. England will face Samoa, Canada and Portugal in Pool C.
Home side South Africa, which won in London last season, tops Pool D and will face France, which memorably won its home event in Paris on the last day of the 2004/05 season. Also in the pool are African sides Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
IRB Head of Rugby Services Mark Egan is looking forward to an important season of Sevens rugby.
"Last year's IRB Sevens series broke all records and I have no doubt that we will continue to build on that success. In terms of international broadcast exposure and crowds Sevens has never been bigger," he said.
"This season has the added incentive and excitement of the Commonwealth Games that will take place on 16 & 17 March 2006 in Melbourne. Sevens will also be played in the Asian Games in December 2006 and the South American Games, which take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in November 2006.
"The first four tournaments (Dubai, George, Wellington, Los Angeles) should make for intriguing viewing with the teams preparing for Melbourne. No doubt we will see new Sevens stars emerge this season, as marvel at some of the older, more familiar faces such as Serevi who still has plans to put the boots on in addition to his coaching role with Fiji," added Egan.
Egan steps aside this year as IRB Sevens Manager to concentrate on his new role as IRB Head of Rugby Services. The IRB has recruited former Hong Kong Sevens manager Beth Coalter as IRB Tournament Operations Manager with responsibility for Sevens Rugby.
"We're delighted to be welcoming Beth to the role," said Egan. "She obviously brings a wealth of experience to the role and I'm sure she will be a popular appointment with the teams and host unions. I have no doubt that she can build on the success of the Series to date and take it to another level."
Dubai Pools:
Pool A:
New Zealand, France, Canada, Arabian Gulf
Pool B:
Fiji, Samoa, Tunisia, Wales
Pool C:
England, Australia, Kenya, Uganda
Pool D:
South Africa, Argentina, Scotland, Portugal
George Pools:
Pool A:
New Zealand, Argentina, Kenya, Wales
Pool B:
Fiji, Australia, Scotland, Namibia
Pool C:
England, Samoa, Canada, Portugal
Pool D:
South Africa, France, Tunisia, Zimbabwe