Rugby Football Union - Sevens - England draw for Dubai and George Sevens

England draw for Dubai and George Sevens


	England Celebrate Victory at the Dubai Sevens photo by Getty Images

Wednesday 25th October 2006
Speaking on today's draw for the two opening tournaments in the IRB Sevens in Dubai and South Africa, England Sevens Coach Mike Friday said, "The huge support England enjoy in Dubai makes it a very special place to play and everyone is keen to get onto the field and show what they can do. No pool is ever easy in the IRB Sevens and both Scotland and France have given England trouble in the past. Having won the tournament for the last two years, we will face additional pressure, especially as the 30,000 crowd are predominantly English.

We have a final training camp on the 20th November and whoever makes the final cut, you can guarantee that they will be playing their heart out when they pull on their white jersey and take to the pitch. It should make it an incredible tournament and I for one can't wait!

George is a very different tournament but just as important for all countries to try and get off to a good start in the eight leg series. It would take a brave man to call who will win the series this year and I am sure the New Zealanders will be back stronger than ever this season. We face Argentina in South Africa who are unpredictable and improve each season. After our devastatingly close second placed finish in last year's series, everyone involved with England Sevens is determined to go one better this year."

For more information or player / coach interviews please contact Sally Price on 020 8831 6727 or sallyprice@rfu.com

www.rfu.com/sevens

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The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the pools and schedules for the opening two Tournaments in the 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series, in Dubai and South Africa.

The finest Sevens teams in the world will first battle to prise the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens trophy from England at the Exiles Ground on December 1st and 2nd, before travelling to South Africa's Garden Route and George to challenge Fiji's title defence.

The Dubai Tournament, now in its 37th year, has grown to become the biggest sporting event in the Middle East and, with record advance ticket sales, is on course for a capacity 60,000 crowd over the two competition days.

In Pool A number one seeds and reigning Series champions Fiji will face Australia, Kenya and new Series core team Portugal. England, looking to make it a hat-trick of victories in Dubai, top Pool B and will play France, Scotland and Zimbabwe.

South Africa, third in last season’s IRB Sevens World Series, face Argentina, Canada and Tunisia in Pool C. In Pool D five times Series Champions New Zealand face Samoa, Wales and Tournament hosts Arabian Gulf.

The following weekend the teams will travel to George, South Africa for the second Tournament of the season, the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens where Fiji will be looking to retain the title it won last year.

Waisale Serevi’s side will open its campaign against Canada, before rounding off the pool stages with matches against Zimbabwe and Samoa. England again top Pool B, but will play Argentina, Wales and Portugal. Home side South Africa heads Pool C and will face France, Kenya and Uganda, while New Zealand face Australia, Scotland and Tunisia in Pool D.

The 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series promises to be the most competitive to date and follows on from a 2005/06 Series that yielded yet more record-breaking figures while an unprecedented 37 teams participated in one or more of the eight Series Tournaments.

“Last season’s IRB Sevens World Series broke all previous records and I have no doubt that the 2006/07 Series will continue to build on that success. In terms of attendance and broadcast figures the Series has never been more popular, while the IRB is committed to increasing funding for the IRB Sevens World Series through its Sevens Strategic Plan to the tune of £2.5 million over the next five years,” said IRB Sevens World Series Tournament Director Beth Coalter.

“The IRB Sevens World Series is viewed by Unions as a key player and coach development tool and over the past couple seasons the likes of Matthew Tait, James Hook, Bryan Habana and Tom Varndell advanced from the Series to make names for themselves at full Test level. With 2007 being a Rugby World Cup year, the younger players competing in the Series will also undoubtedly be looking at the long list of ex-Sevens players to have gone on and played in a Rugby World Cup,” added Coalter.

The full schedules for Dubai and South Africa can be found at the IRB Sevens World Series official website: www.irbsevens.com

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