Australia and Japan added to calendar

Olympic gold medallists Australia and 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympic hosts Japan are the latest countries to stage rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.

The six-leg series kickoffs alongside the men’s in Dubai, December 1-2, before heading to Sydney, Australia, February 3-4. It then moves to Kitakyusyu, Japan, April 22-23, before going to Victoria, Canada, in May 27-28. The series final will take place in Clermont-Ferrand in France, June 24-25. A sixth leg will be added to the calendar in due course.

Benefits

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “The HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series has grown rapidly since its inaugural year in 2012 and we are already seeing the benefits from its inclusion in the Olympic Games as millions of sports fans around the world have engaged and remarked upon the outstanding sporting spectacle that is women’s sevens.

“Combining a women’s event with the men’s tournament in Sydney as well as new venue in Kitakyusyu (Japan) will add to already established tournaments like Dubai, Victoria and Clermont-Ferrand. I look forward to seeing more and more women and girls get involved in the game and enjoy these five fantastic tournaments over the 2016-17 season.”

Australia won their first series championship last May, before beating New Zealand in the Olympic final to claim gold in Rio.