Dubai Sevens: DJ Forbes still feeling fresh after 80 World Series tournaments

DJ Forbes of New Zealand is tackled during Friday's play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament. Tom Dulat / Getty Images / December 2, 2016

DUBAI // Paul Radley files his notebook from Friday's action at the Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament:

Feels like the first time

DJ Forbes celebrated playing in a record 80th HSBC World Sevens Series tournament by scoring a try in New Zealand’s opening pool match against Russia.

Forbes captained the All Blacks Sevens to multiple titles in Dubai, before handing over the armband to Scott Curry last season.

“It feels just as good as the first one,” Forbes said, after setting a new appearance record. “It has always been a privilege to wear the black jersey.”

James Rodwell also set a new caps record for England, breaking Ben Gollings’ mark, while Terry Bouhraoua notched his 100th career try for France.

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Really is the first time

Hong Kong were the first winners of the weekend, and the inaugural champions of the UAE Girls Under 18 International tournament.

The event, which was organised as a means to give the first all-Emirati girls team a taste of competitive rugby, had its pool stage 40kms away at Dubai Sports City.

The final, though, was played on Pitch 2 at The Sevens, with Hong Kong beating Kazakhstan 12-5 with tries from Jessica Eden and Hebe Talas.

“This is their first tour and it has been an awesome, eye-opening experience,” Samantha Feausi, their coach, said. “They have loved it.”

Big names up in action bright and early

The two sides with the most recognisable faces in their ranks anywhere at The Sevens will play each other in the semi-final of the International Vets on Saturday morning.

Waisale Serevi, the former Fiji captain and coach, and his J9 Legends side will face Joining Jack at 11.40am on Pitch 7.

Serevi, 48, had not planned to play this weekend but donned the boots because of some late withdrawals. He will try to pick holes in a Joining Jack defence that includes Andy Farrell.

In the other semi-final in the over-35s, 10-a-side competition, Christina Noble, the most successful team in the competition’s history, will face Dnata Bali Legends.

Harlequins hoping to see double

Coach Mike McFarlane’s pre-tournament suggestion that either of Abu Dhabi Harlequins’ two senior men’s teams might make the final could yet produce a remarkable double.

Harlequins 1 face a rematch of last year’s Gulf Men’s League final in the 9.20am semi-final on Pitch 4, as they face Al Ain Amblers.

Simultaneously, the capital club’s nominal second string will be playing Jebel Ali Dragons, the side coached by former England sevens star Henry Paul, on Pitch 2.

Harlequins are bidding to make it a hat-trick of Gulf titles at the Sevens, while Dragons enjoyed a similar spell of dominance up until 2013.

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