Dubai to host Dialog AR Sevens, Regional Qualifiers for RWC Sevens 2022

By Shamseer Jaleel

Asanga C. Seneviratne

The Asia Rugby Sevens 2021 will see only one leg worked off in Dubai during 19 and 20 November. This event will be a unique one for the eight men’s and eight women’s teams since two teams from each segment will book their

berth for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa in September 2022.

The men’s pools for the AR Sevens were announced recently, a tournament seen as a yard stick for the RWC 2022 selections process. UAE, Japan, Sri Lanka and China will battle it out in Pool A, while in Pool B it will be the battle between Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines and Malaysia.

In the women’s qualifiers, Pool A will comprise of Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand and the Philippines, while Pool B features China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Former Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) President and Chairperson of Asia Rugby Competitions Committee Asanga Seneviratne said: “I am delighted to announce UAE and, in particular, Dubai as the host city for the qualifiers as rugby makes its way to the city of Dubai after hosting two international tournaments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September and Doha, Qatar during the current month.

“The qualifier is played only once every four years. So, it’s a big event for us. The top eight Asian men’s and women’s teams will all be competing in Dubai Sports City to give us the top two finalists who will rub shoulders with the best in the world in Cape Town, South Africa next year at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. We have full faith in the city of Dubai to deliver another spectacular event.”