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The International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series is set to expand beyond the current eight venues in two years' time.

Beth Coalter, IRB Sevens manager, had been a surge in interest among rugby boards all over the world interested in being part of the Sevens series following the inclusion of the sport in the 2016 Olympic Games. Coalter had been speaking at a press conference to launch the Dubai Sevens, the start of the 2009/10 IRB season.

"There are still two more seasons to go (2009-10 and 2010-11) before the existing contract between the IRB and the existing venues expire.

"We are reviewing the scenario and going by the response, new venues will be added to it," Coalter said.

The Dubai event kickstarts the Sevens calendar while the other Sevens events are held in South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and the United States.

New venue

The United States, meanwhile, gets a new venue starting this season as the event has been moved from San Diego to Las Vegas.

While saying that it's still early to realise the full impact, Coalter said that there had been positive signs on the sponsorship front as well as from the broadcasting sector, with the news of Sevens rugby making the cut for Olympics.

"There is no doubt that the October decision (on Olympics) will increase the marketability of the sport," she said.

According to the official, the successful staging of Sevens World Cup here in March also played a significant role in influencing the relevant decision makers.

"Two senior observers of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were present here during the event and they must have given positive inputs.

"We are now on the verge of beginning a new season as an Olympic sport," she added.