DUBAI – Defending champions Fiji will seek to become the sole country to win back-to-back titles when the three-day IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens gets under way today.
Fiji have won the four-yearly event twice, in 1997 and lastly in 2005 in Hong Kong, and while they might have dumped mercurial former player Waisale Serevi as coach, it would be a brave pundit to write their chances off.
But Fiji’s form on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit this season has not been good.
The two-time RWC Sevens winners face France, Georgia and USA in Pool B.
The World Series is wide open this season, Argentina beating England in San Diego in the final leg before the event here.
England and South Africa share the lead in the series with 60 points, eight clear of New Zealand on 52. Argentina are fourth on 48, ahead of Fiji (32), Kenya (24) and the United States (20).
The English line up in Pool E alongside potential upset package Kenya, and minnows Tunisia and Hong Kong.
South Africa should progress to Pool C which includes Scotland, Canada and Japan, while New Zealand have drawn Tonga, hosts the Arabian Gulf and Italy in Pool A.
Samoa, Australia, Portugal and Ireland are in Pool D, while Argentina, Wales, Zimbabwe and Uruguay complete the 24-team line-up in Pool F.
– Nampa-AFP
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