Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens gets underway

The Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens gets underway today at The Sevens with matches in the Invitation Tournament on what promises to be a terrific day of action – and free admission.

Matches in the invitation tournament will be taking place on pitches two to seven throughout the day, with the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series getting underway on Pitch One at 1pm, when Canada face France in Pool C.

Also in Pool C is Brazil, the South American flag wavers in the women’s event, who open against Australia. Beatriz Muhlbauer, who is sidelined this weekend through injury, says it is for Brazil to perform well in Dubai so fans will come and support them when the country hosts a round of the Series for the first time in February.

“We need to show we are continuing to improve and increasing our level of rugby because we want to stay on the Women’s Sevens World Series,” she said. “We’re hosting a leg for the first time in February so we need to do well in Dubai as that will encourage people to come and watch, and cheer for, us.

“We need to improve our position in the rankings too because we have slipped from 10th to 13th in the period between the two Rugby World Cup Sevens. We need to fight against teams in and around us in the rankings, sides like China and France.”

There are 18 Pool Matches on Pitch One throughout the afternoon and evening, with defending Dubai, and overall World Series champions New Zealand, making their first appearance of the weekend in a Pool A game against Fiji at 1.44pm. USA and Ireland complete this Pool.

England, who were runners up in the overall standings after the first season of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, open against Tunisia in Pool B, before facing Spain and Russia – the side that stunned them in the pool stages of Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow back in June.

“There are very few ‘easy’ games in Sevens now so each game requires a performance,” said England’s captain Michaela Staniford. “Russia obviously stick out as a challenge, they performed well at the Sevens World Cup and have grown with their core squad over the past few years.

“Spain are also a smart rugby nation and a team that have become more and more threatening with the ball.

“We really need to focus on performance game to game, gelling as a team and getting the best possible start to the Series.”

Other than the world class action of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, one of the most intriguing clashes of the day comes in the Invitation Tournament’s International Veteran’s section, when Joining Jack face J9 Legends.

That match is on Pitch Four at 11.20am this morning, with Joining Jack represented by legends of English rugby league, including Andy Farrell, Dennis Betts and Martin Offiah.

They are playing in Dubai for the second year running, to raise funds for, and awareness of, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an incurable illness from which former England player Andy Johnson's five-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with two years ago.

Up against them will be some of the most famous names in recent rugby union history representing The J9 Foundation.

This is a charity set up to raise awareness of the debilitating motor neurone disease, set up by the South African legend Joost van der Westhuizen, who was diagnosed with it two years ago.

And wearing the J9 colours will be a team of former internationals - including Carlos Spencer of New Zealand, Stephen Larkham of Australia and Colin Charvis of Wales – with a combined 500 international caps between them.

This year, up to 100,000 visitors will once again visit the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens to support 16 teams taking part in the second round of the men’s HSBC Sevens World Series tournament, and 12 in the opening round of this season’s IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, according to the organisers.

A record breaking 213 teams are taking part in the event’s Invitation Tournament, making it the biggest and best ever.

In the HSBC Sevens World Series, defending overall champions New Zealand set the standards for this season’s campaign with victory at the Gold Coast opening round last month. But England were in great form too, finishing third, and with four Dubai titles to their credit are now eyeing number five under new coach Simon Amor.

“After making a promising start to the series in Australia, we’ll be doing everything in our power to take another step forward at The Sevens,” said Amor. “England always get great support in Dubai and it undoubtedly gives us a real lift. It’s a great environment to play in.”

Amor’s predecessor with England was Ben Ryan, who has now accepted the fresh challenge of leading Fiji. Ryan led England to back-to-back wins in Dubai in 2010 and 2011, and has now set himself the goal of leading Fiji to a first Dubai title since it became an IRB Sevens World Series host venue 14 years ago.

“Dubai is always a superb tournament and as a coach here I’ve felt both the thrill of winning and the pain of losing in that incredible atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win here twice, but amazingly Fiji hasn’t won Dubai since the World Series started back in 1999, and that is something that my players are desperate to put right.”

Dubai was proud to host the first round of the inaugural IRB Women’s Sevens World Series last year. New Zealand won that, and the overall title, but coach Sean Horan says the competition gets tougher all the time.

“We know that other teams will have gone away after World Cup and worked quite hard, so we are expecting them to come out hard in Dubai,” he said.

“We loved our Dubai experience last year, it’s a great tournament, and there’s always a great buzz about the place over all three days. We love how the crowds really get behind this event, and show their passion and support for teams and Sevens rugby.

“The crowds are great, the support is very passionate and the atmosphere always terrific. We are definitely looking forward to being back in Dubai – it’s a great place to kick off the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series and we’re itching to get our 2013/2014 campaign under way.”

IRB Tournament Director, Beth Coalter, says Dubai stands out among other rounds of both the HSBC Sevens World Series, and the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, because it is the only one where the tournaments run alongside each other.

She said: “Dubai offers the fans and also the players something unique with so many different levels of competition taking place side by side, and with the internationals very much at the pinnacle.

“The men’s IRB teams arrive here having had a good look at each other at round one on the Gold Coast last month, where New Zealand won but the competition was fierce; and for the women this is the opening round of their World Series, so it is very exciting all round.”

Gary Chapman, Emirates’ President Group Services and dnata, said he is looking forward to another successful weekend of top class rugby, and is delighted that the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens remains so popular with visitors.

“The enduring popularity of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens with the people of the UAE gives us great pride and I am in no doubt the 2013 event will live up to expectations and once again make it the number one event on Dubai’s sporting and social calendar,” he said.

“The Dubai Rugby Sevens continues to grow stronger every year and we are proud to be a part of the HSBC Sevens World Series.”

Vice President of the UAE Rugby Federation, Faisal Al Zarooni, said the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens is yet another opportunity to build on the growing enthusiasm for the game throughout the UAE.

He said: “The UAERF will continue attaining its goal of 5000 Emirati youth playing rugby on a weekly basis by the end of 2016.

“At the forefront of our agenda has been the development of the Shaheen team. The younger Emiratis who are joining the younger squads are showing an extremely positive, committed attitude and some promising talent which will ensure the future Shaheen team.

“We have gained support from the UAE National Olympic Committee and the UAE General Authority of Sports and Youth Welfare, this has enabled us to set some solid foundations in our efforts to promote the growth of rugby across the Emirates.”

The Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens is not just a showcase for the best rugby action, there is also a weekend of great entertainment - with a particular focus on family fun this year.

Along with the HSBC World of Sport, entertainment for children also includes Saba’a’s Sevens Club, and the opportunity to learn circus tricks. For the first time, there also is a designated family entrance to The Sevens, and 2000 seats designated for mums, dads and their children in the Air BP stand.

Entrance to Thursday’s action, which includes the opening day of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series event, and the Invitation Tournaments, is free. Tickets are still available at the gate for Friday and Saturday, with children under the age of 12 entering free of charge on all three days if accompanied by an adult.

For more information on the tournament, log on to: www.dubairugby7s.com.

For all Thursday’s fixtures, visit the tournament website: https://www.dubairugby7s.com/teams-and-results/2013/2013fixtures.

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