Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7s planning a December makeover

A scaled down version of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7s is being planned this year, featuring GCC divisional teams across Rugby, Netball and Cricket.

Entries have opened today for all three sports and will close on September 30.

December 4-5 are the proposed dates for the tournament, which is still awaiting approvals from the relevant government entities and governing bodies.

Full confirmation of the event will be announced by October 15.

Organisers announced that full refunds will be issued to teams if the tournament is unable to go ahead. 

The move comes following the announcement last month that the HSBC World Sevens Series would not be taking place in Dubai this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"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," said Tom Burwell, Tournament Director.

"Pitch Two will become the main field and will have a unique feel to it. Our intention is to build an experience that truly encapsulates 51 years of the Dubai 7s."

The tournament will be delivered in accordance with international and local health and 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.