Middle East Rugby Sevens
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TEAMS TO WATCH Since the first Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993, the tournament has been dominated by teams from the Oceania region, with the exception of the inaugural competition which England won after a hard-fought battle against Australia. The 24 men's teams include defending champions Fiji, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia, France, Scotland, Argentina, host union the Arabian Gulf, Uruguay, Portugal, Wales, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Hong Kong, USA, Canada, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tunisia.
FIJI This small South Pacific island nation, has one of the most successful teams in Sevens history. In addition to winning the 2006 IRB series, the Fijians have also won the Melrose Cup twice since the tournament kicked off 16 years ago - first in 1997 and again in 2005. Although the club recently let go of coach Waisale Serevi, the highestscoring player in Rugby World Cup Sevens history, the defending champions are determined to hold onto the cup for another four years.
NEW ZEALAND The Kiwis have the good fortune of having one of the best coaches in Sevens history. Gordon Tietjens has presided over eight World Series victories for the men in black - not bad considering there have been just nine series - as well as success in the World Cup Sevens in 2001. The All Blacks also have a number of records to their name, including winning six of the eight tournaments in the 2007/08 Sevens series with a 35-match unbeaten run along the way.
SOUTH AFRICA If anyone can unnerve the New Zealanders, it's the in-form Springboks, who won the opening two events of the 2008/09 World Series in Dubai and at home in George. The South Africans will be keen to add a World Cup Sevens title to their 15-a-side successes in 1995 and 2007.
BEST OF THE REST England have shown a massive improvement on last year's form, winning the New Zealand Sevens last month, reaching the finals at the Dubai Sevens in 2008 and the 2009 USA Sevens, as well as taking the Plate in George, South Africa. Argentina, fresh from winning the USA Sevens, will rely on the free-scoring Santiago Gomez Cora and their renowned defence if they are to trouble the top four. Samoa, the London Sevens victors last season, have the game's most capped player in captain Uale Mai. Kenya could also be genuine contenders if they rediscover their form of last season, while Arabian Gulf, as the host union, will be hoping to draw inspiration and support from the home crowd in their first World Cup event.
WOMEN OF THE WORLD The inclusion of a women's tournament for the first time in Rugby World Cup Sevens is sure to bring an extra element of competition to the event. According to Fitzsimons, the participation of 16 of the world's best women's sides will also help promote the women's game in the region. "Judging by the qualifying tournaments, which involved an incredible 83 women's sides, competition is certainly as fierce as the men's tournament with 16 teams relishing the prospect of becoming the first ever to have their names inscribed on the new Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens trophy." The games will be structured in four pools based on each side's performance through 2008. The teams are Australia, England, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, China, USA, Thailand and Uganda. Having beaten rugby heavyweights New Zealand in the qualifying rounds, Australia goes into the competition at the top of Pool A. England also performed well in the qualifying rounds to top Pool B, while Canada tops Pool C. However, if New Zealand's performance in previous Sevens Series is anything to go by, they, like their male counterparts, will be a force to be reckoned with.
READY FOR KICK OFF After hosting last year's Dubai Rugby Sevens, new venue The Sevens on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, is gearing up to welcome thousands of fans for the World Cup. The purpose-built venue, which is about half an hour from Dubai, includes a permanent stand with seating for 4,500 people plus temporary stands to increase capacity to more than 50,000. And with such capacity, organisers are anticipating another world record for Dubai - having the largest Rugby World Cup Sevens crowd in history. Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament director Beth Coalter sums up the event. "Rugby World Cup Sevens is a major highlight of the global sporting calendar, attracting supporters from all over the world for a feast of world-class international rugby. "Dubai 2009 promises to raise the bar once again. With an outstanding new venue, great facilities, the prospect of a record crowd and the introduction of a women's tournament for the first time, the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 is an event not to be missed.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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