Speaking at the pre-tournament Press Conference Tuesday, Gary Chapman, President, Emirates Group Services and dnata, said: “Now in its 46th year, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens has seen phenomenal growth in terms of participation from teams and spectators”.
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Elsewhere series champions Fiji have one debutant in Sevuloni Mocenacagi as Ben Ryan includes many familiar names from the winning champions including Jerry Tuwai, Savenaca Rawaca, Isake Kotanibau and captain Osea Kolinisau.
Fiji begin the defence of their World Sevens title in Dubai on Friday with eyes on a repeat victory in 2016 as well as giving their country a historic first Olympic medal.
They won four rounds of the global series, making sure of their place in the Olympics in the process.
“We have beefed up a lot of our training and most players have put on a bit of weight”.
Tournament director Jim Fitzsimons said: “It is an honour to have such a great All Black join us at the Dubai Rugby Sevens as we kick off the first round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series”.
The results left Ireland third in the final pool standings, meaning they miss out on tomorrow’s cup quarter-finals.
South Africa have named 35-cap Springbok Francois Hougaard and Juan de Jongh for the first two legs in Dubai and home soil in Cape Town next week.
There will, of course, be heightened interest from Singapore in the World Sevens this year because the Singapore Sevens will be back after a 10-year hiatus.
The Russians went 3-0-0 to win Pool A, hammering defending series champion New Zealand 33-7 along the way.
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“I think it’s different for the players and the coaches and management staff. We try to keep them focused on the step-by-step process and if we can nail that then we know the outcome will take care of itself”.
