View source for Dubai Sevens

{{Short description|Annual rugby sevens and social event}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = 
| last_season     = 2023 Dubai Sevens
| logo            = 
| pixels          = 180px
| caption         = <!--Dubai Sevens logo-->
| sport           = Rugby sevens <!-- do not wikilink -->
| inaugural       = 1970
| teams           = 16
| champion        = {{Ru7|FIJ}}
| most_champs     = {{nowrap|{{Ru7|RSA}}<small>{{spaces|2}}(11 titles)</small>}}
| website         = 
}}
[[File:Zaza.jpeg|thumb|2007 Dubai Sevens]]

The '''Dubai 7s''' is an annual [[rugby sevens]] and social event held at [[The Sevens Stadium]] in [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]. Founded in 1970, the event is the longest running sports event in the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dubairugby7s.com/legacy/history|title=Dubai Rugby Sevens: History|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524090430/https://dubairugby7s.com/legacy/history|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Events==

The Dubai 7s has six competitions each year:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dubairugby7s.com/event-information/event|title=Dubai Rugby Sevens: Event information}}</ref>
* [[World Rugby Sevens Series]]
* [[World Rugby Women's Sevens Series]]
* Rugby Invitation Tournament 
* Netball Invitation Tournament
* Cricket 7s Invitational Tournament
* WODON3, Fitness at the Emirates Dubai 7s

Dubai is the first leg of the [[World Rugby Sevens Series]]. Sixteen teams compete in the men's tournament divided into four pool of four teams each. On the first day, each team plays the other three teams in the pool. The two highest-placed teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinal knockout rounds, and the bottom two teams move to the challenge bracket.

Dubai also hosts a stop on the [[World Rugby Women's Sevens Series]]. Twelve teams compete in the women's tournament.

For the invitation tournaments, rugby teams take part in 15 sections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dubairugby7s.com/news/emirates-airline-dubai-rugby-sevens-2016-tickets-now-sale|title=Dubai Rugby Sevens: News}}</ref>  The rugby invitational tournament is popular, with hundreds of teams participating.<ref name="dubairugby7s.com">[https://dubairugby7s.com/news/dubai-rugby-sevens-breaks-attendance-records "The Dubai Rugby Sevens Broke Attendance Records"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315085557/https://dubairugby7s.com/news/dubai-rugby-sevens-breaks-attendance-records |date=15 March 2017 }}, Dubai Rugby 7s, 5 December 2016.</ref> The netball tournament includes teams in three sections: gulf women, open youth, and open women.

The Dubai Sevens is one of the more popular sporting events in Dubai, with over 100,000 fans attending the 2016 event.<ref name="dubairugby7s.com"/><ref>[https://www.timeoutdubai.com/sport-wellbeing/sport/389505-dubai-rugby-sevens-2018-dates-times-schedule-nightlife-and-fancy-dress "Dubai Rugby Sevens 2018"], Time Out Dubai, 29 November 2018.</ref>

==Venue==
The Dubai 7s has been held at [[The Sevens Stadium]] since 2008. Facilities at The Sevens include: eight rugby pitches, six cricket pitches, four netball/tennis courts, one basketball court, a grandstand, and ancillary facilities.<ref>[http://www.thesevens.ae/ The Sevens official website], 01.01.11.</ref>

The tournament's move to that venue in 2008 was a success. The tournament broke the World Series single-day attendance record in its first year with over 50,000 fans appearing on the first day of the tournament.<ref>[https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/23795 "Dubai sets new Series attendance record"], World Rugby, 29 November 2008.</ref>

==World Series results==
===Summary of results===
Five teams have won the Dubai Sevens at least once. The early years of the tournament on the World Series were less competitive. Prior to 2003, New Zealand won the final with a comfortable 20+ point margin each year. In the first decade from 1999 to 2008 only five teams (New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, South Africa, and England) had reached the Dubai Sevens final. Since then, the tournament has been more competitive, with several additional teams making the final and semifinal stages.

Summary of Dubai Sevens results on the World Series (updated to 2022): 

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Team !! Champion !! Runner-up !! Semifinalist !! Top 4 placing 
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|RSA}} ||11 ||1 ||5 || 17
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|NZL}} ||6 ||5 ||9 || 20
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|ENG}} ||4 ||2 ||9 || 15
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|FIJ}} ||3 ||6 ||9 || 18
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|SAM}} ||1 ||3 ||5 || 9
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|AUS}} ||– ||2 ||3 || 5
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|USA}} ||– ||2 ||2|| 4
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|FRA}} ||– ||1 ||2 || 3
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|IRE}} ||– ||1 ||– || 1
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|ARG}} ||– ||1 ||4 || 5
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|ESP}} ||– ||1 ||– || 1
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|KEN}} ||– ||– ||1 || 1
|-
| align=left | {{ru7|WAL}} ||– ||– ||1 || 1
|-
! align=left | Total<!---->||24||24||48||96 
|}

===Results by year===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align: center;"
|-
!Year
! {{pad|1.4em}}Venue{{pad|1.4em}}
! colspan=3|Cup final
! colspan=3|Placings
! Refs
|- bgcolor=lightgrey style="line-height:9px; font-size:85%; padding:0px;"
|style="border-left:0px;" |
|
| style="width:9em; font-weight:bold;" | Winner
| style="width:3.5em; font-weight:bold;" | Score
| style="width:9em; font-weight:bold;" | Runner-up
| style="width:9em; font-weight:bold;" | Plate
| style="width:9em; font-weight:bold;" | Bowl
| style="width:9em; font-weight:bold;" | Shield
|
|-
| [[1999 Dubai Sevens|1999]]
| [[Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground|Dubai Exiles]]
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|38–14
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|SCO}}
|{{N/A}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens I – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-1999 |website=Rugby7.com |date=1999}}</ref>
|-
| [[2000 Dubai Sevens|2000]]
| Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|34–5
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|{{ru7-big|IRE}}
|{{N/A}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens II – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2000 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2000}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=ececec
| style="padding:9px; 3px;"|[[2001 Dubai Sevens|2001]]{{ref|downgrade-2001|<sup>a</sup>}}
| Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7|NZL|noflag=1}}
|45–7
|{{ru7|RSA|noflag=1}}
|{{ru7|SCO|noflag=1}}
|{{ru7|WAL|noflag=1}}
|{{N/A}}
|
|-
| |[[2002 Dubai Sevens|2002]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|38–12
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|FRA}}
|{{ru7-big|NAM}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens IV – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2002 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2002}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 Dubai Sevens|2003]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|33–26
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|CAN}}
|{{ru7-big|ZAM}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens V – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2003 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2003}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004 Dubai Sevens|2004]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|26–21
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|POR}}
|{{ru7-big|TUN}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens VI – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2004 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2004}}</ref>
|-
| [[2005 Dubai Sevens|2005]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|28–26
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|WAL}}
|{{ru7-big|KEN}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens VII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2005 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2005}}</ref>
|-
| [[2006 Dubai Sevens|2006]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|31–12
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|WAL}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens VIII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2006 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2006}}</ref>
|-
| [[2007 Dubai Sevens|2007]]
|Dubai Exiles
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|31–21
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|ZIM}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens IX – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2007 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2007}}</ref>
|-
| [[2008 Dubai Sevens|2008]]
|[[The Sevens Stadium|The Sevens]]
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|19–12
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|POR}}
|{{ru7-big|USA}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens X – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2009 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2009}}</ref>
|-
| [[2009 Dubai Sevens|2009]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|24–12
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|WAL}}
|{{ru7-big|RUS}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XI – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2009 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2009}}</ref>
|-
| [[2010 Dubai Sevens|2010]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|29–21
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|KEN}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2010 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[2011 Dubai Sevens|2011]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|29–12
|{{ru7-big|FRA}}
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|SCO}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XIII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2011 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 Dubai Sevens|2012]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|26–15
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|WAL}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XIV – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2012 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2012}}</ref>
|-
| [[2013 Dubai Sevens|2013]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|29–17
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|FRA}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XV – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2013 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[2014 Dubai Sevens|2014]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|33–7
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|SAM}}
|{{ru7-big|CAN}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IRB Sevens XVI – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2014 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[2015 Dubai Sevens|2015]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|28–17
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|{{ru7-big|FRA}}
|{{ru7-big|CAN}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=World Sevens Series XVII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2015 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2015}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey style="line-height:9px; font-size:85%; padding:0px;"
|  |
|style="border-left:0px;" |
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Winner
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Score
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Runner-up
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Third
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Fourth
|style="font-weight:bold;" | Fifth
|
|-
| [[2016 Dubai Sevens|2016]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|26–14
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|{{ru7-big|WAL}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=World Sevens Series XVIII – Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2016 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[2017 Dubai Sevens|2017]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|24–12
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|ENG}}
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|AUS}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=World Sevens Series XIX– Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2017 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[2018 Dubai Sevens|2018]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
| 21–5
| {{ru7-big|USA}}
| {{ru7-big|ENG}}
| {{ru7-big|AUS}}
| {{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=World Sevens Series XX– Dubai |url=http://rugby7.com/st.asp?T=DUB-2018 |website=Rugby7.com |date=2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[2019 Dubai Sevens|2019]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
| 15–0
| {{ru7-big|NZL}}
| {{ru7-big|ENG}}
| {{ru7-big|SAM}}
| {{ru7-big|AUS}}
|<ref>{{cite web |last= del Carme |first=Liam |title=Brilliant Blitzbokke bag Dubai Sevens title |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/sport/rugby/2019-12-08-brilliant-blitzbokke-bag-dubai-sevens-title/ |website=Business Live |date=8 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| style="padding:9px; 3px;"|2020
| The Sevens
| colspan=6| ''Tournament cancelled due to [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Rugby union|impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic]].''
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Radley |first1=Paul |title=2020 Dubai Rugby Sevens cancelled because of coronavirus |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/rugby/2020-dubai-rugby-sevens-cancelled-because-of-coronavirus-1.1056161 |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National News]] |location=Abu Dhabi |date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028084806/https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/rugby/2020-dubai-rugby-sevens-cancelled-because-of-coronavirus-1.1056161 |archive-date=28 October 2020}}</ref><br /><ref name=series-revised-2021>{{cite web  |date=29 July 2020 |title=Plans revised for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021 |url=https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/577411/plans-revised-for-hsbc-world-rugby-sevens-series-2021 |website=World Rugby |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729094233/https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/577411/plans-revised-for-hsbc-world-rugby-sevens-series-2021 |archive-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[2021 Dubai Sevens#Event I|2021<br />I]]
|The Sevens
| {{ru7-big|RSA}}
| 42–7
| {{ru7-big|USA}}
| {{ru7-big|ARG}}
| {{ru7-big|FIJ}}
| {{ru7-big|AUS}}
|
|-
| [[2021 Dubai Sevens#Event II|2021<br />II]]
|The Sevens
| {{ru7-big|RSA}}
| 10–7
| {{ru7-big|AUS}}
| {{ru7-big|ARG}}
| {{ru7-big|FRA}}
| {{ru7-big|GBR}}
|
|-
| [[2022 Dubai Sevens|2022]]
|The Sevens
| {{ru7-big|RSA}}
| 21–5
| {{ru7-big|IRE}}
| {{ru7-big|NZL}}
| {{ru7-big|USA}}
| {{ru7-big|FRA}}
|
|-
|[[2023 Dubai Sevens|2023]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|RSA}}
|12–7
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|{{ru7-big|IRE}}
|
|-
|[[2024 Dubai Sevens|2024]]
|The Sevens
|{{ru7-big|FIJ}}
|19–5
|{{ru7-big|ESP}}
|{{ru7-big|ARG}}
|{{ru7-big|NZL}}
|{{ru7-big|FRA}}
|
|}

'''Notes:'''<div style="line-height:1.2em; margin-left:1.7em; font-size:85%;">
{{note|downgrade-2001|<sup>a</sup>}} The event held on November 7–8, 2001, was downgraded in status and excluded from the Sevens World Series after several teams withdrew in the wake of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001 attacks]].<ref name = it-2001/><ref name = guardian-2001/><ref name = tele-2001/>
</div>

==Earlier winners==
Winners of the Emirates International Trophy from 1988 to 1998:<ref>{{cite web |title=Dubai 7s|url=http://rugby7.com/roh_dub.asp|website=Rugby7.com}}</ref>

*1988 [[The Thistles]]
*1989 [[Crawshays RFC|Crawshays]]
*1990 [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
*1991 [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]]
*1992 {{ru7|SCO|noflag=1}}
*1993 White Hart Marauders
*1994 {{ru7|KOR|noflag=1}}
*1995 Kiwi Nomads
*1996 {{ru7|FJI|noflag=1}}
*1997 New Zealand Invitation
*1998 {{ru7|FJI|noflag=1}}

==See also==
* [[Dubai Women's Sevens]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=guardian-2001>{{cite news
 |date        = 24 October 2001
 |title       = England to miss Dubai's downgraded sevens
 |first       = Ian
 |last        = Malin
 |work        = The Guardian
 |url         = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/23/rugbyunion.ianmalin
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160814042406/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/23/rugbyunion.ianmalin
 |archive-date = 14 August 2016
}}
</ref>

<ref name = it-2001>{{cite news
 |date= 16 October 2001
 |title= Dubai scrubbed from Sevens Series
 |work= Irish Times
 |url= http://www.irishtimes.com/news/dubai-scrubbed-from-sevens-series-1.400377
 |url-status= live
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160611140425/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/dubai-scrubbed-from-sevens-series-1.400377
 |archive-date= 11 June 2016}}
</ref>

<ref name=tele-2001>{{cite news
 |date        = 9 November 2001
 |title       = Dubai sevens: Scots take Plate prize
 |url         = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3016511/Dubai-sevens-Scots-take-Plate-prize.html
 |access-date  = 11 June 2016
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160810231112/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3016511/Dubai-sevens-Scots-take-Plate-prize.html
 |archive-date = 10 August 2016
}}
</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dubairugby7s.com/ Official website]
*{{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20211031042418/https://dubaiexiles.com/history-of-dubai-exiles-rugby-club/|title=History of Dubai Exiles Rugby Club|date=31 October 2021}}
 
{{World Rugby Sevens Series navbox}}
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