World Rugby Sevens Series 2018/19: Your complete guide

As the 15-man rugby season draws to a close in one half of the sphere, the World Rugby Sevens Series rolls in for the 2018/19 edition, kicking off in Dubai at the end of November.

Ten cities across the planet are set to welcome the biggest names in the abbreviated format, for what is set to be a festival of exciting running rugby.

South Africa’s Blitzboks are the defending champions, and will no doubt look to build on their form from last season, but will not have it easy, given the highly competitive nature of the world series.

They will be gunning for a third consecutive title, a feat that no nation has achieved since New Zealand’s glorious run between 2010 and 2014, where they racked up four consecutive titles.

Read: Cape Town Sevens 2018: Dates, tickets and all you need to know

World Rugby Sevens Series previous winners

2017/18: South Africa

2016/17: South Africa

2015/16: Fiji

2014/15: Fiji

2013/14: New Zealand

Most successful teams

New Zealand – 12 titles

South Africa – 3

Fiji – 3

Samoa – 1

Teams to watch

Australia

Have improved in recent years after a bit of a dip, and were well in the mix last season, finishing a respectable fourth in the world series.

Key player: Ben O’Donnell

England

Despite constantly being in and among the very best in sevens rugby, England are yet to claim a world series title. They finished a disappointing fifth last season, and will look to improve on that performance this time around.

Key player: Dan Norton

Fiji

Sevens rugby is a national sport in Fiji, and that’s been proven on the circuit where the Pacific Islanders have constantly been a force to be reckoned with.

Key player: Jerry Tuwai

Kenya

The East Africans are one of the dark horses and most people’s second favourite team, with their entertaining expansive style and their knack for causing an upset.

Key players: William Ambaka Ndayara, Collins Injera

New Zealand

The most successful nation on the sevens circuit, the world series titles have dried up in the Land of the Long White Cloud, and they will be looking for their first triumph since emerging victorious in the 2013/14 season, back when the legendary DJ Forbes led them.

Key player: Joe Ravouvou

Samoa

Samoa have gone off the boil since claiming their maiden title at the turn of the decade, but they should not be written off.

Key player: Joe Perez

South Africa

The defending champions are looking for a third successive title, and have been the most consistent team on the circuit in recent years. They have a host of exciting players and the squad depth that’s essential for a title run.

Key players: Rosko Specman, Werner Kok

USA

The United States has invested a lot in its sevens rugby over the years, and it’s been paying off. With a number of electrifying players, one senses it’s only a matter of time before they rule the roost.

Key Players: Perry Baker, Carlin Isles

World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 schedule

30 November-1 December 2018: Dubai, UAE

8-9 December 2018: Cape Town, South Africa

26-27 January 2019: Hamilton, New Zealand

2-3 February 2019: Sydney, Australia

1-3 March 2019: Las Vegas, USA

9-10 March 2019: Vancouver, Canada

5-7 April 2019: Hong Kong, Hong Kong

13-14 April 2019: Singapore, Singapore

25-26 May 2019: London, England

1-2 June 2019: Paris, France