According to the World Rugby website, held from December 5-7, 2019, the Dubai Sevens marks the start of this season’s men’s competition as well as the race for Olympic glory as sevens prepares to make its second appearance on the Olympic Games programme in Tokyo in mid-2020.
Dubai will be the second stop on the 2020 women’s competition after the opening round took place in Glendale, Colorado from October 5-6 where hosts USA were victorious.
South Africa will not feature in the women’s draw in Dubai, but the Blitzboks have been drawn in Pool D, alongside England, Spain and Kenya.
The Blitzboks will be desperate to finish top of the pool and avoid a potential Cup quarter-final against arch-enemies Fiji who feature in Pool A alongside France, Argentina and Japan.
The USA and Australia headline Pool B (along with Scotland and newcomers Ireland), while Pool C sees the All Blacks battle Samoa, Canada and Wales.
Last season the Blitzboks finished a disappointing – and distant – fourth in the final overall standings, behind winners Fiji, the USA and New Zealand.
Pop star Kylie Minogue is set to play an evening concert on Friday, December 6 to celebrate 50 years of the event.
THU DEC 5 2019
HSBC Sevens Series 2020 Dubai
Match 1 SAMOA 7S vs CANADA 7S
Local time kick off 17:06
Match 2 NEW ZEALAND 7S vs WALES 7S
Local time kick off 17:28
Match 3 AUSTRALIA 7S vs SCOTLAND 7S
Local time kick off 17:50
Match 4 USA 7S vs IRELAND 7S
Local time kick off 18:12
Match 5 FRANCE 7S vs ARGENTINA 7S
Local time kick off 18:40
Match 6 FIJI 7S vs JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 19:02
Match 7 ENGLAND 7S vs SPAIN 7S
Local time kick off 19:32
Match 8 SOUTH AFRICA 7S vs KENYA 7S
Local time kick off 19:54
FRI DEC 6 2019
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 – Dubai, Pool C,
Match 9 SAMOA 7S vs WALES 7S
Local time kick off 11:14
Match 10 NEW ZEALAND 7S vs CANADA 7S
Local time kick off 11:36
Match 11 AUSTRALIA 7S vs IRELAND 7S
Local time kick off 11:58
Match 12 USA 7S vs SCOTLAND 7S
Local time kick off 12:20
Match 13 FRANCE 7S vs JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 12:42
Match 14 FIJI 7S vs ARGENTINA 7S
Local time kick off 13:04
Match 15 ENGLAND 7S vs KENYA 7S
Local time kick off 13:26
Match 16 SOUTH AFRICA 7S vs SPAIN 7S
Local time kick off 13:48
Match 17 CANADA 7S vs WALES 7S
Local time kick off 17:06
Match 18 NEW ZEALAND 7S vs SAMOA 7S
Local time kick off 17:28
Match 19 SCOTLAND 7S vs IRELAND 7S
Local time kick off 17:50
Match 20 USA 7S vs AUSTRALIA 7S
Local time kick off 18:12
Match 21 ARGENTINA 7S vs JAPAN 7S
Local time kick off 18:40
Match 22 FIJI 7S vs FRANCE 7S
Local time kick off 19:02
Match 23 SPAIN 7S vs KENYA 7S
Local time kick off 19:32
Match 24 SOUTH AFRICA 7S vs ENGLAND 7S
Local time kick off 19:54