Dubai Sevens organisers released the pool draws for the men’s and women’s senior tournaments on Monday, with England and Australia highlighting pool play with a bout in Pool C.
Dubai Sevens, the second stop on the IRB Rugby Sevens World Series calendar, is scheduled for December 4-6.
It will be the rivals’ first matchup of the new IRB Sevens World Series season, as they avoided one another at the 2014/15 season opening tournament at Gold Coast, Australia. The Aussies did get the edge over England 15-12 in the semi-finals at Twickenham for the 2013/14 season-ending London Sevens in May.
England finished fourth overall in last season’s IRB Sevens World Series, with Australia just behind in fifth.
The pair will be joined by the US and Kenya in Pool C.
South Africa, runners-up last season, will lock horns with Wales in Pool D, as well as Canada and Portugal.
Fiji, who opened the 2014/15 season by winning at Gold Coast and claimed the title in Dubai last year, lead Pool A with Argentina, France and newcomers Brazil.
Defending champions New Zealand will take on Samoa, runners-up to Fiji at Gold Coast, as well as Scotland and the other first-timers at Dubai Sevens, Japan.
The women’s tournament sees New Zealand, Russia, the US and China in Pool A; Australia, Spain, France and South Africa in Pool B; and Canada, England, Fiji and Brazil in Pool C.
Sevens tickets went on sale for the 45th staging of the three-day event on October 14.
Dubai Sevens draw:
Men:
Pool A: Fiji, Argentina, France, Brazil.
Pool B: Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland, Japan.
Pool C: England, Australia, USA, Kenya.
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Canada, Portugal.
Women:
Pool A: New Zealand, Russia, USA, China.
Pool B: Australia, Spain, France, South Africa.
Pool C: Canada, England, Fiji, Brazil.
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