Dubai Rugby Sevens organisers announce slate of teams for 2015 tournament

Organisers announced the international Sevens sides who will participate in the 2015 Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament from December 4-5.

South Africa players celebrate after winning the 2014 Dubai Sevens tournament. Pawan Singh / The National / November 29, 2014

Organisers announced on Wednesday the teams that will compete in the 2015 Dubai Rugby Sevens, with Russia supplanting Japan the only confirmed change in the field.

Russia have been promoted to core member status for 2015/16 at the expense of Japan, who finished bottom of the 2014/15 table. Japan, however, are like to return anyway as winners of the Asian Rugby Sevens Series. Brazil participated in last year’s Dubai Sevens with a wild-card invitation.

The rest of the field will consist of the normal slate of core Sevens World Series members, including 2014 Dubai winners South Africa and 2014/15 overall champions Fiji. They are joined by Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

The tournament, scheduled for December 4-5, is the first leg of the 10-stop 2015/16 Sevens World Series slate.

The Women’s Sevens Series participants were also announced, with defending champions New Zealand joining Ireland, Australia, Brazil. Canada, England, Fiji, France, Japan, Russia, Spain and the US to complete the field.

Other tournaments featuring over 250 teams consisting of local, international invitational and youth sides will play from December 3.

Tickets are now on sale and available at dubairugby7s.com.

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