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The leading lights on the HSBC Sevens World Series are all relishing starting off the season off in Dubai on December 3-4.

New Zealand return to Dubai as defending champions following a dominant performance last year which saw them down a buoyant Fiji in the final. The Kiwis, once again under the reigns of coach Gordon Tietjens, return to the desert as recent gold medal winners from October’s Commonwealth Games.

But the coach has said to to expect a different looking squad from Delhi with many of his star names graduating to Super Rugby honours.

"We are excited about the World Series and the challenge to try to win back the overall series title,” said Tietjens.

“I will have a new squad with maybe less than half of the squad that was at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi available. The likes of Zac Guildford, Liam Messam, Sherwin Stowers and Fritz Lee will all be with Super 15 squads.
New Zealand backed up their 2009 Dubai win with a further success at the George Sevens in South Africa a week later. Despite their strong start they frustratingly had to settle for second place on the overall standings behind a red hot Samoa.

“To do well in the World Series you have to start well. We’ve seen the emergence of a lot of countries over the years in Sevens rugby and it’s going to be no different this season. There are up to six or seven teams that could win any of the tournaments so we’re going to have to start well and Dubai’s certainly first and foremost in our minds,” added the legendary coach.

Similarly Australia, silver medallists in Delhi, will also have a fresh-looking squad with some of their marquee names also signing professional terms. The Aussies, under coach Michael O’Conner, were last season’s most improved team winning the London Sevens and finishing runners-up at the final stage in Edinburgh.

“The majority of these players have now picked up Super Rugby contracts for next year, leaving only a couple eligible for the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series season. Nevertheless, the silver medal has given is a psychological boost going into Dubai,” said O’Connor.

“Like every coach I am hoping to win as many games as possible, improve on last year and stay on the top line of the draw.

“Dubai is an excellent tournament with great crowds and atmosphere – it’s a great venue to kick off the Series,” he added.

South Africa are hoping for a better showing in Dubai after a disappointing tournament last season, which saw them narrowly lose out in the Cup quarter-finals to Fiji.

“After not doing so well last year, losing in the quarterfinal to Fiji, we would really like to do better. I think we deserve better and I think Dubai deserves better from us and hopefully we can come back and give them that,” said coach Paul Treu.

”You are going to see quite a few new faces in the side but we’re very optimistic that we can do well,” added the coach whose side claimed both the Dubai title and the overall series title in the 2008/2009 series.

“Coming off winning the World Series just the year before and then coming into the Dubai tournament last year, obviously the expectations were going to be high and unfortunately we couldn’t deliver. It was a tough season for us. I think we just lost too many of those key players. It was just a terrible year in terms of injuries,” added Treu.

“We’re really looking forward to coming back to Dubai – just to come here and experience so many people coming to enjoy the tournament, the atmosphere and the stadium. Just the hospitality of the people in Dubai is really awesome. This is one of the best Sevens tournaments in the world”.