{"id":596229,"date":"2025-11-27T02:16:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T02:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/596229\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T02:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T02:16:16","slug":"no-england-ireland-or-united-states-world-rugby-defend-revamped-dubai-sevens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/596229\/","title":{"rendered":"No England, Ireland or United States: World Rugby defend revamped Dubai Sevens"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Rugby bosses say they still regard sevens as a vehicle to grow the sport despite shrinking the world series.<\/p>\n

Only eight sides will play on each of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s series for the majority of this season as part of a revamped format for the abridged game.<\/p>\n

That is half the number of men\u2019s sides who competed in the main event at Dubai Sevens<\/a> a decade ago, for example.<\/p>\n

Rugby was gearing up for its return to the Olympics then. The debut of sevens at Rio 2016 was widely regarded as a success, which it was hoped would increase the sport\u2019s appeal in new territories, including Olympic powerhouses like the United States and Russia. <\/p>\n

Within two Olympic cycles, it had become one of the most popular events in the Games. At Paris in 2024, sevens \u2013 fuelled by the success of Antoine Dupont\u2019s<\/a> France side \u2013 was reportedly the most watched sport after track and field.<\/p>\n

And yet just over a season later, the Men\u2019s HSBC SVNS has contracted to eight sides: Argentina, South Africa, France, Fiji, Spain, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain.<\/p>\n

It means many of the countries that have given Dubai Sevens in particular so much of its colour in the past are now absent.<\/p>\n

Four-time champions England are a distant memory. They were initially integrated into the new Great Britain side, but have since cut support to that. The GB men\u2019s side is now run by Scotland.<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s men reached the final in Dubai<\/a> three years ago, but have now disbanded. Two-time Dubai finalists USA are not one of the core teams. And Kenya, who have always been among the best supported sides in Dubai, are also absent.<\/p>\n

Sides from a new second-tier series do have a chance to join the final three legs of the season. Four teams will join the eight core sides for the series finale, at the end of which a world champion will be decided.<\/p>\n

As part of the changes, there are second and third-tier series that play their own tournaments around the world as part of the competition structure.<\/p>\n

Critics argue that the changes to the series will make it harder for sides beyond the core eight to develop in the sport, or compete at the top level of sevens.<\/p>\n

But Brett Robinson, the chair of World Rugby, said the changes will help ensure sevens remains \u201cthe path to grow the game\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge always is [about] creating compelling competitive context as well as pathway,\u201d Robinson told The National. \u201cIn World Rugby, the push and the shove of that is to ensure our investment in sevens is delivering on the first but also on the second.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur ambition is to grow and build this game globally. And Sevens is a platform to do that into new markets; into Asia, into South America, and into North America.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robinson said the changes will help ensure the \u201cOlympic programme is well supported\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we’ve decided to do is sharpen the focus of the top tier of the sevens programme, so bring more high-quality competition together and then separated out over three series,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo there’s three layers of the sevens model that ultimately leads to the top teams playing in a final series at the end of three tournaments.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our perspective, you can qualify through this system to play in the top series if you’re good enough, and there’s that pathway that’s always there.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you’re not good enough at the top, you can also be, you can be relegated. So I think the principle of jeopardy is strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it also supports our ambition of trying to make sure that the Olympic programme is well supported through the system of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robinson understands the evolution of the format. The former Australia Test player was part of a Queensland side that won the main event at Dubai Sevens in 1991.<\/p>\n

Back then, at the old Dubai Exiles ground in Al Awir, the tournament was played on sand among invitational teams. The concept of a world series, as well as the installation of grass in Dubai, was still some years away.<\/p>\n

Thirty-four years later, his daughter is playing in the International Social tournament this weekend, just as his son did last year. His children will have enjoyed a vastly different experience on the carefully tended fields of The Sevens, which has been home to rugby in the Middle East since 2008, to what he did back in 1991.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used to strap our knees and our elbows up, and that’d all get ripped off in the first tackle,\u201d Robinson said of the experience of playing matches on sand. \u201cIt wasn’t as bad as it sounds because it was soft. [Like] on the beaches in Australia where you\u2019d play touch, it was firm, but it wasn’t rock hard. But you could take a bit of bark off in a tackle, that’s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timeline<\/p>\n

2012-2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

The company offers payments\/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East<\/p>\n

May 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac\u2019s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts<\/p>\n

September 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act<\/p>\n

October 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Court fines Petrofac \u00a377 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence\u00a0<\/p>\n

December 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group<\/p>\n

May 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company\u2019s restructuring plan<\/p>\n

July 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan<\/p>\n

August 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision<\/p>\n

October 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth \u20ac13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange<\/p>\n

November 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE<\/p>\n

The specs<\/p>\n