The countdown to the 2009 Dubai Rugby Sevens can now officially get under way after the International Rugby Board released the dates for the eight events that comprise the 2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series.
The UAE has once more been charged with kicking off the new season when the sporting and social showcase arrives at The Sevens on December 4-5.
The occasion will mark the first high-profile rugby tournament in the Emirates since Dubai hosted the Sevens World Cup in March.
The annual series will travel to five continents over a six-month period and feature eight established events. The host venues of each tournament remain the same as the previous three World Series and the order is almost identical, resulting in the teams travelling from the UAE to George, South Africa.
The only changes to the schedule will see Australia host the Adelaide Sevens the week before Hong Kong in March 2010 rather than the week after as it did this year, while the venue for the US leg of the series has yet to be confirmed.
South Africa clinched the IRB World Series for the first time this year after victories in Dubai, George and Adelaide.
Rugby Sevens Calendar
City Country Date
Dubai UAE 4-5 Dec 2009
George South Africa 11-12 Dec 2009
Wellington New Zealand 5-6 Feb 2010
TBC USA 13-14 Feb 2010
Adelaide Australia 20-21 Mar 2010
Hong Kong Hong Kong 26-28 Mar 2010
London England 22-23 May 2010
Edinburgh Scotland 29-30 May 2010
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