The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is the latest victim of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, following an announcment from World Rugby today of the hugely popular event’s cancellation.
The sport’s governing body released a statement cancelling the first two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which includes Cape Town and the Dubai event in November.
The continued global uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of the tournament for the first time in 51 years since its inception in 1970.
“The decisions were taken in line with relevant government and International public health authority advice and with the health and wellbeing of the rugby community and the wider public taking precedence. Both hosts are due to return to a full Series schedule beyond this season,” the official statement read.
With regional and local events beginning to open back up in the UAE, the organisers are exploring the opportunity to deliver a regionally focused invitational/club event in 2020
Tournament Director, Mr Tom Burwell spoke of ongoing plans for the regional invitational competition;
“Whilst we are unable to deliver the world-famous Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens in its traditional format in 2020, we are currently exploring options to safely deliver an invitation tournament in December which will be invitational & club level regionally focused across rugby, netball & cricket. We will announce further details in due course next month”
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