The RFU has decided that it will not send a team to play in the Dubai Sevens tournament. Further to the position taken by the IRB that the tournament would not carry ‘official’ status, England will now prepare for the first leg of the IRB World Sevens Series in Durban on November 17th-18th.

Chris Spice the RFU Performance Director said ‘We remain committed to the IRB World Sevens Series and we will be taking part in Durban. Our decision not to participate in Dubai was one we did not take lightly but the withdrawal of the tournaments official status left us with little alternative. We hope that the organisers and sponsors of the Dubai tournament understand our position.’

Joe Lydon, Manager of the England Sevens said ‘I expect to announce the first England Sevens training squad later this week. Like the other countries who have withdrawn from the Dubai tournament we do so with regret but we will now prepare our players for the Durban tournament.’

For further information please contact:

Adrian Firth
RFU Media Office
Tel: 0208 831 6513/6514/6558/6626