Following the announcement last month that the HSBC World Sevens Series would not be taking place in Dubai in 2020 due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and the effect on global team logistics, the tournament is now in a position to confirm its proposed plans for December this year with a scaled-down Emirates Airline Dubai 7s.

The tournament has taken place for the past 50 years and has been built on the participation of local, regional & international invitational teams across the sports and the 2020 tournament will be a celebration of that.

It is proposed that the Emirates Airline Dubai 7s will take place on December 4th-5th 2020 and will feature all of the GCC divisions of participation in Rugby, Netball and Cricket.

The Emirates Airline Dubai 7s in 2020 will continue to still include much of what has made it a firm favorite for all that have visited or participated over the years.

Tournament Director, Tom Burwell said: “We are disappointed that the HSBC World Sevens Series is unable to take place in Dubai in 2020 but this is also an opportunity to deliver something unique for players & local fans at the end of what has been a very tough year.”

“Pitch Two will become the main field and will have a unique feel to it. Tournament goers will still enjoy marquee experiences including the Heineken Tavern, experiential cocktail bars, fantastic family fun and of course some brilliant local sport. Our intention is to build an experience that truly encapsulates 51 years of the Dubai 7s”.

“We are going to celebrate all levels of participation. crowds will be wowed by the skills of the teams from across the region set to backdrop that will still inspire memories from years past and set a tone for the future as we look forward to 2021”

The organisers are unable to confirm the tournament until required approvals and sanctions are given by the relevant government stakeholders and governing bodies. Full confirmation of this year’s event will be announced by October 15th, 2020. Tickets for attendance will not go live until the event has been approved and confirmed

Team entries for 2020 open today for all three sports at a discounted rate due to the World Series not taking place and will close on September 30th. The tournament will be confirmed by Dubai Sports Council by October 15th with full refunds issued to teams if the tournament is unable to go ahead.

To apply to take part in this year’s tournament or learn more about 2020, please visit the website here – www.dubairugby7s.com

The tournament will be delivered in accordance with international and local health & safety measures to ensure that the health of players, fans and all who attend is placed as paramount. This will mean that some areas of the tournament such as entry points and hand sanitization will be different from previous years.

“We are faced with some huge challenges in delivery but the team behind the tournament have been working tirelessly to come up with ways to deliver in 2020. This might mean some extra patience is required from visitors and a personal responsibility taken but this will be no different to the ‘new normal’ that we face in everyday life. We are excited to deliver a brilliantly unique Emirates Airline Dubai 7s in December despite these challenges”

Tickets for the tournament will be released in the middle of October with further details on how to apply for these communicated in due course.

Follow the @Dubai7s Instagram & Twitter channels for the most up to date information about 2020 or visit the website on www.dubairugby7s.com

The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens

Established in 1970 and organised annually by Emirates Airline, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is one the world’s leading international sevens event. Every year the tournament welcomes to The Sevens Stadium over 300 rugby & netball teams.

Since 1999, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens has been a part of World Rugby’s HSBC Sevens Series. The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is the only tournament globally that has featured on every year of both the Men & Women’s World Series.

ENDS

Released on behalf of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens. For further information, please contact Lucy Plumb (English-language media) +971 56 996 4677 or by email on Dubai.7s@thesevens.ae