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Robin Heymann in Dubai

Today marks the start of the 40th Dubai Sevens with 164 invitational and club teams vying for honours in 11 categories over the next three days. The cup finalists from each division will play their final match in front of 40,000 fans on the main international pitch at 'The Sevens'.

The International Veterans 10s competition gets the event underway and features some of the world’s very best rugby players from yesteryear. 2008 champions were Christina Noble Vets, representing the children’s charity, and have included the likes of Austin Healey, Will Greenwood, Tim Stimpson, and 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Chris Sheasby for their defence. The side also sees former Wallabies Damian Smith and legendary centre Tim Horan included.

“I have been asked to come and play for the Foundation for the past four years but have not been able to make it due to work commitments back in Australia,” said Horan.
“Now I have got the chance to come out I have got a sore calf. But whether you play one game or just 30 seconds you are an ambassador for the charity. It is a great way for us to give back to the community.”

The side will come against the likes of Luxembourg Rugby, Moscow Lads, and Swansea University Old Boys. The division also will see them potentially come up against the Bone Steelers who themselves include the likes of Gregor Townsend amongst other Scottish legends.

The International Invitational sees some of the very best elite level sevens, involving players who would not look out of place in the main international competition.

Defending champions, Sporting Chance Foundation Samurai, are again one of the favourites, including several exciting young players in the form of Jamie Hearn (Saracens) Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Gareth Williams (Harlequins) and Gavin Dacey (Pontypridd) and coached by former England Sevens boss, Mike Friday. They will face stiff competition from an SA Marauders team loosely based on the South Africa Vipers who themselves won plate competition last year and warmed up recently by finishing runners-up to Fiji in Sri Lanka.

The side includes some of the best junior sevens players in South Africa, identified by Boks coach Paul Treu. One of the leading players on the IRB Sevens stage last year, Renfred Dazel, will lead the side as part of his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.

2008 cup finalists Kooga Wailers will look to challenge in the latter stages on Saturday, as will leading French side Les Bleus, New Zealand legends, and the national sides from India and Namibia, and Nigeria.

The tier below this is the International Overseas section pitting the likes of PWC, Navy Sharks, Barla Lions, and RICS Lions against each other.

The International Ladies tournament starts on Friday and features the USA, Arabian Gulf, Moscow and Georgia. Firm favourites will be the Wooden Spoon with a large England contingent and led by former national captain Sue Day, who was in Dubai in March leading her country at the Rugby World Cup Sevens. Gulf Veterans, Local Social, International Under 19 Men, Gulf Under 19 Men, Gulf Ladies and Gulf Mens make up the other divisions

“The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament is hugely popular because it is a three-day festival of rugby. It is unique in that respect and no other IRB series event is supported in this manner,” says Tournament Director Jill Conlon.

“As a result it's a real family affair and the atmosphere is reflective of that. Because this tournament has been taking place annually for 40 years, it now has a cult following. Many teams return year after year to settle old scores, meet old friends and make new ones.”