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The IRB World Sevens Series returns to Twickenham for a 10th time this weekend for the London Sevens, the penultimate leg of the season.

With the event’s stock rising each year and a record amount of tickets being sold it promises to be another special weekend of sevens hosted at the largest purpose built rugby stadium in the world, dwarfing other venues on the circuit. Once again 16 teams line up in four groups for the capital’s extravaganza, won last year in thrilling fashion by Samoa beating Fiji 19-14.

Often finding itself as the decisive leg of the series, this year is no different with South Africa leading the series by 28 points from closest rivals England, and requiring just 13 points to secure their first overall title. Yet the Blitz Bokke face a potentially tough ask in London facing a resurgent Australia, World Cup winners Wales and Germany, whilst week later at Edinburgh they line up on day one against defending champions New Zealand, France and the USA.

Hosts England are currently in runners up spot behind the Boks and know a big showing in front of their eager fans can keep the series alive heading to Edinburgh for the final leg of the series next weekend. Ben Ryan’s charges faces bogey side Samoa in Pool B with France and Georgia also standing in their way.

Another side which the Twickenham crowd are always keen to get right behind is Kenya, one of the form teams headed to West London after reaching the Adelaide final but facing a tough ask with Fiji and Scotland in their group.

“The pools in England are tricky but after reaching a final we are eager for a podium finish. This is our best season ever but we really want to finish on a high and be in line for some of the accolades at the end of the season,” said Kenya Coach Benjamin Ayimba.

Surprisingly one team making their London Sevens debut is USA, who came on board as a ‘core’ side for this season guaranteeing them a place at each 8 legs of the series, and Al Caravelli has brought an exciting young side bristling with speed and enthusiasm. Germany are set to make their second appearance in London, and have been preparing for their Twickenham experience with a warm up at last weekend’s Amsterdam Tournament.

Although South Africa have been triumphant in 3 of the 6 legs thus far, it has been one of the tightest and most competitive series to reach the London in the IRB Sevens Series to date with a number of sides potentially in the running for glory by the time the quarter-finals come round on Day 2.

To match other high profiles legs on the series, Tournament Director Terry Burwell and his team have implemented some changes to improve the Twickenham experience.

“London and Twickenham are actually an event the players and coaches genuinely really look forward to. To help try and generate the same atmosphere as both Hong Kong and Dubai, we have focused on making sure the bottom tier seats sales are high, bringing the atmosphere to life,” said Burwell.

“We have invested in event entertainment making sure it's the sevens party to be at, and we are hopeful we can top 50,000 over the 2 days, that’s an increase of approx 30% on our 2008 attendance”.