2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series schedule set

[Burgs]

2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series schedule set

(IRB.COM) Wednesday 8 July 2009
The International Rugby Board has announced the dates for the eight events which comprise the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, starting once again with the two events in Dubai and George, South Africa, in December 2009.

The Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens will kick off the 11th year of the Sevens World Series on 4-5 December at 'The Sevens', Dubai's purpose-built sporting venue which staged last year's event and the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens for both men and women in March.

A week later, the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens follows on 11-12 December in George on the country's famous Garden Route.

The IRB Sevens World Series will visit five continents over a six month period and feature eight established Grand Prix style events, hosted by the same eight countries as the last three World Series. There is, however, one change to the schedule as Australia host the Adelaide Sevens the week before Hong Kong in March 2010.

"The 10th year of the Sevens World Series was a huge celebration of Rugby filled with exciting, explosive action, fiercely contested matches, world class athletes, packed stadia and hundreds of spectacular tries," said IRB Sevens Manager, Beth Coalter.

"As we embark on the second decade of the Sevens World Series, I am sure 2009/10 will be another massive year for the Game, and we look forward to seeing newly crowned champions, South Africa, defend their title for the first time in Dubai."

IRB Chairman, Bernard Lapasset said: "These are very exciting times for Rugby Sevens with the sport represented at the World Games in Kaohsiung this month, and the Commonwealth Games Sevens finishing the Sevens calendar in 2010. By the time the World Series kicks off in December, we will also know if Rugby Sevens is to be played at the 2016 Olympic Games.

"Sevens possesses Rugby's only World Series and it is our hope that the Game’s global appeal, true competitiveness and popularity with fans, broadcasters and sponsors will mark it out as a discipline to truly enhance the Olympic movement,” added Lapasset.

2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series schedule

Venue/Date

Dubai, UAE 4-5 December 2009
George, South Africa 11-12 December 2009
Wellington, New Zealand 5-6 February 2010
USA 13-14 February 2010
Adelaide, Australia 20-21 March 2010
Hong Kong 26, 27, 28 March 2010
London, England 22-23 May 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland 29-30 May 2010


* The 2010 Commonwealth Games Sevens competition will be held in Delhi, India on 5-6 October 2010

[force4eva]

hehehe good good hope to see some of you over here again

[The Man]

Sad , it would have been good to see this event part of it and dump London

http://www.hannover-sevens.de

[Sheikh]

Cool, I might still be over here for the Dubai round - it's only a 3-hour drive.

[oxleymoron]

Going off a rough draw for 2010, Adelaide 7s will be the same weekend as the Horrotahs at MES.

[AndyS]

Yeah, it would need to be the overnight horror via Melbourne or the early flight Saturday.

[Sheikh]

It was something similar this year - can't remember which game, but one of our Friday nighters.

Mind you, as I recall I was looking at getting the train back and baulked at the cost!

---------- Post added at 17:15 ---------- Previous post was at 16:53 ----------

Sad , it would have been good to see this event part of it and dump London

http://www.hannover-sevens.de

Anyone else confused by the timing of the rounds? Dubai in December, George in January, NZ & USA back-to-back in Feb, Adelaide & HK back-to-back in March and London & Edinburgh back-to-back in May. If the back-to-back thing is to aid player release, why not do Dubai and George the same way (Xmas & New Year?)

I'm not averse to the IRB dumping London, though. I always much preferred the Middlesex sevens (8 big teams and 8 local teams) to the international version.

Plus, they used to play it on FA Cup day, although that did mean that the London trains had thousands of p*ssed and angry soccer fans and thousands of p*ssed and happy rugby fans all trying to get home.