Just over three months after the victories of France and New Zealand in the men's and women's Olympic tournaments at the Paris 2024 Games, the Seven Nations Series is back.
With this resumption of the world circuit, head to Dubai for the first stage of the season where the Blues will inevitably be expected after their victory in the grand final last June. In the women's category, it is Australia who will put their title on the line after beating the Tricolores in the final in Madrid. Stakes, chain… Here is everything you need to know about the Dubai tournament.
The favorites for the Seven Nations Series in Dubai
First stop on the world circuit, Dubai welcomes the crème de la crème of Rugby sevens. In the men's table, the France will have a status to defend in the Middle East since the Blues are the defending champion and Olympic champions. Defeated in the final in Madrid last season, theArgentine who finished at the top of the regular season will arrive with revenge. Olympic vice-champion in Paris, the Fiji will also be part of the favorites just like theSouth Africavictorious last season in Dubai.
In women, theAustralia and Maddison Levi, voted best player in the world at 7, will be the big favorites for their own succession in the Middle East. THE Pearls remain on a victory in the grand final against Les Bleues last June. The team of Franceshe will have to recover from the elimination in the quarter-finals of the Games against Canada (14-19). Among the other selections to follow, you will have to keep an eye on the New Zealand or even on the UNITED STATES.
The French team calendar
Winner last year, the Blues are putting their title back on the line for the new season of the world circuit. The selection now coached by Benoit Baby will begin the competition against Kenya then Australia before facing South Africa.
Saturday November 30
7 h 50 : France – Kenya
12 h 20 : France – Australia
17 h 44 : France – South Africa
Unhappy finalists against Australia last season, the Blues will hope to do as well as last year in Dubai where they took the bronze medal. For this, Romain Huet's players will have to come out of a group made up of Spain, Great Britain and the United States.
Saturday November 30
6 h 22 : France – Spain
9 h 21 : France – Great Britain
13 h 51 : France – UNITED STATES
SEE ALSO. VIDEO. Rugby 7s: “Immense pride” for Antoine Dupont, voted best player of the year
The lists of selected Blues
Successor to Jérôme Daret, recently elected best coach of the year, Benoit Baby has decided to call on five Olympic champions but will have to do without Antoine Dupont, elected best player in the world at 7, and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang.
The group: Grégoire Arfeuil (Section paloise), Enahemo Artaud (FFR), Ali Dabo (FFR), Liam Delamare (FFR), Romain Gardrat (UBB), Victor Hannoun (Bayonne), William Iraguha (FFR), Stephen Parez-Edo Martin (FFR ), Varian Pasquet (FFR), Célian Pouzelgues (Toulouse), Paulin Riva (FFR), Jordan Sepho (FFR), Antoine Zeghdar (Castres).
For his part, Romain Huet has decided to bring freshness to his group with six players who will make their first Seven Nations Series.
The group: Kelly Arbey (Toulouse), Alycia Christiaens (Lille), Anne-Cécile Ciofani (Stade français), Noa Coudre (Lyon), Lili Dezou (Toulouse), Marie Dupouy (Blagnac), Perrine Fagnen (Rennes), Cléo Hagel (Lyon) , Iän Jason (Toulouse), Valentine Lothoz (Stade rochelais), Carla Neisen (Blagnac), Sulianna Sivi (Rennes), Hawa Tounkara (Bobigny), Léa Trollier (Lyon).
On which channel to follow the Seven Nations Series in Dubai?
The L’Équipe channel has purchased the rights to the Seven Nations Series, a world rugby sevens tournament. ” The L’Équipe channel will broadcast the key matches of each stage of the French men’s and women’s teams”and its site and application will offer “all matches live”. She recruited former French 7s international Jonathan Laugel as a consultant.
