2022 Emirates Dubai 7s Invitational Rugby Schedule Announced

Tournament Organisers have today announced the match schedules for the 16 Tournaments which make up the greatest Invitational Rugby 7s Tournament in the world.

230 teams from 32 countries will converge on The Sevens Stadium in Dubai from 1-3 December as part of the biggest sports and entertainment festival in the Middle East.

The premier elite tournaments, for Men and Women, are packed with International teams and some of the best 7s club teams in the world.

In the International Invitational Men, Ireland Invitational will have to work hard to defend their 2021 title against the likes of Samurai, Germany Development, France A,  Spain A,  Japan SDS and the wonderful Speranza 22. As always, the French teams come out in force; multi-year participants Froggies are back along with 7s Fantastics, France 7s Militaire new entries Clermont and Union Bordeaux-Begles. Watch out for Swify – new this year and packed with high-quality Fijian talent as well as recent Gold Coast 7s Champions Western Sydney Two Blues and compatriots, Bond University Bullsharks.

The Women’s Invitational is no different in terms of high-performance talent. Australia, whose senior team have been tearing it up on the HSBC Sevens World Series, bring their A-Team to the Invitational this year and will compete against international sides from France, Spain, Japan, Kenya, South Africa, Czech Republic and Tunisia along with multi-year domestic champions Scion from the USA and Delta Drone Tuks from Pretoria, both of whom will be a formidable force.

Elsewhere, the 32 Team International Social Tournament really is front and centre when it comes to celebrating all that is unique about Rugby, the event and their shared values. Champions Wyvern Harlequins, are top seeds but will face stern opposition from teams hailing from all over the world including Kurdistan, Belgium, South Africa, Canada and of course….Essex! The much-loved Pie and Pint Pilgrims are back again, watch out for them on and off the field where the infamous Bull Run will no doubt make an appearance around the main Stadium pitch over the weekend.

The International Vets tournament is yet again stacked with former internationals in teams raising money for outstanding causes while closer to home, Dubai Exiles will be looking to retain their grip on the Gulf Men’s League trophy and the Dubai Hurricanes Women will be looking to avenge last year’s Gulf Women’s Final defeat by the Dubai Falcons.

To witness some of the best atmospheres on the outer pitches, do not miss the Gulf Under 19 Boys and Girls Sections where the best teams in the region will battle it out for the honour of playing the Finals in front of over 30,000 people in the main stadium. 2021 boys Champions Dubai English Speaking College and Girls Champions Dubai Exiles, seek to retain their titles in front of some of the most partisan crowds at the Festival.

All the action kicks off from 8am on Thursday 1^st December and continues right through to Saturday afternoon before all players and spectators converge on the main Stadium to witness all the excitement of the knockout stages of the HSBC World Sevens Series.

“It’s incredibly humbling that over 4,500 participants from 32 countries across the world, collaborate, save, fundraise and choose Dubai and the Emirates Dubai 7s as the destination to come together, compete and have an incredible time, catching up with old friends and making plenty of new ones.

More than anything, the event is a celebration of friendship, community and cultural diversity. All our tournaments are played in a terrific spirit and there really is something for everyone with everything from elite level rugby to, social, vets, youth, men, women, boys and girls. Our job is to make sure everyone’s on and off-field experience is the very best it can be and we cannot wait to get started”.” Said Simon Jelowitz, Emirates Dubai 7s Head of Sport Operations.