Sevens: Easy draw for NZ at IRB tournaments

New Zealand should be unchallenged in pool play when they open the defence of their International Rugby Board world sevens series title in Dubai and George, South Africa in December.

Six-times champions New Zealand will have most difficulty with France in the opening rounds at Dubai on December 1-2 while Argentina are the strongest pool opponents at George a week later.

The tournaments will provide the first indication of who are on target for Commonwealth Games success in March. The Wellington and Los Angeles tournaments will be played in February as the final lead-in to the Melbourne Games in March.

Last year New Zealand won the George tournament but were knocked out by Fiji in the semifinals at Dubai.

IRB world sevens pool draws:

Dubai, December 1-2:
Pool A: New Zealand France, Canada, Arabian Gulf
Pool B: Fiji, Samoa, Wales, Tunisia
Pool C: England, Australia, Kenya, Uganda
Pool D: South Africa, Argentina, Scotland, Portugal

George, South Africa, Dec 9-10:
Pool A: New Zealand, Argentina, Kenya, Wales
Pool B: Fiji, Australia, Scotland, Namibia
Pool C: England, Samoa, Canada, Portugal
Pool D: South Africa, France, Tunisia, Zimbabwe

- NZPA