KEY POINTS:
Reigning champions New Zealand have been top seeded for next month's opening round of the 2008-09 world series at Dubai.
The tournament marks the start of seven months of international sevens action taking in eight events on the grand-prix style series and the World Cup on March 5-7 also to be held in Dubai.
Eight-times world champions New Zealand have been drawn in pool A for the first round with Australia, Wales and a qualifier from Africa.
Second-seeded South Africa have Kenya, Scotland and Arabian Gulf in pool B and third seeds Samoa are in pool C with Argentina, France and Georgia.
With former sevens maestro Waisale Serevi back at the helm as coach, Fiji head pool D which contains England, Portugal and the United States who replace Canada this season as the North American region's 'core' team to play at all eight events.
- NZPA