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The United Arab Emirates will be in full celebration mode on December 2. Not only will the nation be celebrating the 40th anniversary of UAE National Day but the country’s newly formed national Sevens rugby team will be making its debut appearance in its home tournament, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.

Following the UAE Rugby Association taking over the reigns as the governing body of rugby in the UAE at the start of this year, this will be the first time that the players who formerly played alongside Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi will play as just one nation.

The December 1st – 3rd event is the second leg on the 2011/12 HSBC Sevens World Series and is likely to provide one of their toughest challenges to date, but it is one the players are relishing.

“It’s really exciting to be part of a great event like the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens,” said Yousef Shaker, one of the Emirati players, whose brother Mohanned is also a seasoned Sevens player and hopeful member of this inaugural squad.

“Playing on home ground is always something special but to be able to do that in front of such an amazing crowd is very unique and the team are training hard so that we can make our country proud.

New Zealander, Wayne Marsters, has taken the reigns as coach of the side and sees this opportunity to compete against the best Sevens sides in the world as one which can only benefit his team.

“Playing against the best professional teams in the world is going to be a massive challenge but our guys are really looking forward to having this opportunity and learning from it,” he said.

“They will be giving their all out there and will gain so much from this experience."

“It is a landmark moment in the history of the event and we all look forward to watching our home team participating at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens for the first time,” said Gary Chapman, President Emirates Group Services & dnata.

“It is fitting that they will make their first appearance on National Day providing us with one more reason to celebrate. These are exciting times for rugby in the Middle East and we wish the team all the best – I have no doubt they will have plenty of support from the passionate home crowd,” added Chapman.

The full line-up of international men’s teams competing in the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, USA, Wales, Zimbabwe.

Tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens are on sale through www.dubairugby7s.com and you can also find out which outlets have them on sale.