Dubai Rugby Sevens to take place in December

Dubai - The tournament will take place on its traditional dates during the National Day weekend

By James Jose

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The New Zealand women's team perform the Haka after winning the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens in 2019. — KT file
The New Zealand women's team perform the Haka after winning the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens in 2019. — KT file

Published: Wed 20 Jan 2021, 12:27 PM

This year’s Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens will take place on its traditional dates in December, the organisers of the tournament announced on Wednesday.

The hugely popular tournament, which has been a permanent fixture on Dubai’s sporting calendar and has been part of the city’s social fabric for five decades now, will be held from December 2 to 4 at its traditional venue — The Sevens Stadium on the Dubai-Al Ain Road.


This year will see the tournament celebrating its 51st anniversary. Last year’s event, which was scheduled from November 26 to 28, had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was the first time in its rich history that the competition had to be called off since its inception in 1970.

This year’s edition will also see the addition of a cricket tournament being played alongside rugby and netball.


It’s with huge excitement that we have the opportunity to announce our 2021 date,” Tournament Director Thomas Burwell said in a statement.

“We understand from teams and players across the world how excited they are to return to the desert this coming December,” he added.

Burwell also said that the inclusion of cricket will add flavour to the action.

“The addition of cricket is very exciting as more sports men, women boys and girls will get the chance to take part in this iconic tournament. Cricket will bring its own flavour and showcase the facilities of The Sevens Stadium,” Burwell said.

Burwell was delighted that the Dubai Sevens was back to its traditional dates in December and added that entries for all the three disciplines will begin on March 1.

“We are also very happy to be returning to our traditional dates on the opening weekend of December and due to a reformatting of the schedule we will be welcoming an increased number of teams in Rugby & Netball this year. Entries for all three sports will open on March 1st,” he revealed.

This year’s tournament will see more than 350 teams in action across the three disciplines. And as a build-up to it, the organisers have planned various activities like the Dubai 7s schools’ legacy program and The Dubai 7s Development program.

james@khaleejtimes.com


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