Preview: Desert Sevens
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Round Two of the Sevens World Series begins in Dubai this Friday, and the stakes will be higher than ever before.
The Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying path adds spice to an already tough competition with the top four teams at the end of the season qualifying for the Olympics.
Fiji sit in top spot after winning the Gold Coast Sevens and head into the weekend as the defending champions, 2012 Dubai Sevens winners Samoa are second following an impressive showing in Australia, while England and South Africa complete the top four.
Defending Series champions New Zealand and the remaining 10 core teams will all be looking to close the gap on the leaders, while eyes will also be on Brazil who are appearing as the non-core side in Dubai having already been guaranteed a spot in Rio as hosts.
"There is no secret that Dubai is a very competetive tournament," said England captain Tom Mitchell.
"We always love coming here.
"For us it is a massive honour to be nominated as the qualification team for Team GB but we know we need to improve on last year, and the tournament before, to keep improving.
"There is enough to incentivise us here in Dubai before we look at the Olympics."
Fiji head into the tournament as defending champions and current series leaders, which adds to the pressure for their captain Osea Kolinisau.
"There is more pressure after winning in Australia, and as the defending champions, but also as all teams are gunning for a spot in Rio," added Kolinisau.
"We are just looking to build on our performances and keep in that top four.
"We are happy with the team we have despite losing three players from the Gold Coast. The work we have put in means that all the boys deserve their place in the team and we're excited to run out at the weekend."
Pools:
Pool A: Fiji, Argentina, France, Brazil
Pool B: Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland, Japan
Pool C: England, Australia, USA, Kenya
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Portugal, Canada
Day One schedule – Friday, December 5:
(all local time – GMT +4)
Match 1: South Africa v Portugal – 9.00
Match 2: Wales v Canada – 09.22
Match 3: Fiji v France – 09.44
Match 4: Argentina v Brazil – 10.06
Match 5: Samoa v Scotland – 10.30
Match 6: New Zealand v Japan – 10.52
Match 7: England v USA – 11.14
Match 8: Australia v Kenya – 11.36
Match 9: South Africa v Canada – 12.00
Match 10: Wales v Portugal – 12.22
Match 11: Fiji v Brazil – 12.44
Match 12: Argentina v France 13.06
Match 13: Samoa v Japan 13.30
Match 14: New Zealand v Scotland – 13.52
Match 15: England v Kenya – 14.14
Match 16: Australia v USA – 14.36
Match 17: Portugal v Canada – 15.46
Match 18: South Africa v Wales – 16.08
Match 19: France v Brazil – 16.30
Match 20: Fiji v Argentina – 16.52
Match 21: Scotland v Japan – 19.25
Match 22: Samoa v New Zealand – 19.47
Match 23: England v Australia – 20.31
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