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The World Sevens Series continues on Friday (local time) and while it’s a new tournament, the venue will stay the same. Dubai plays host once again with fans now permitted to attend following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
Martin Iosefo will play his 50th World Series event which could also be his last. The 31-year-old Hawaiian is set to depart the Eagles for Major League Rugby after this weekend’s tournament.
A number of teams have made changes with Japan opting to switch out a third of their side. South Africa notably was unable to call a replacement for the injured Muller du Plessis due to travel restrictions regarding the omicron COVID-19 variant and will compete with only 12 men.
There are two changes for Americas teams. Marcos Moneta returns from a week training with the Barbarians to join Los Pumas while Lautaro Bazán Vélez is ruled out. Injury to Jake Thiel sees Brennig Prevost called into the Canada side with Theo Sauder assuming the captaincy.
| TEAM | OUT | IN |
| Argentina | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | Marcos Moneta |
| Australia | Maurice Longbottom | Stuart Dunbar |
| Canada | Jake Thiel | Brennig Prevost |
| Fiji | Panapasa Qeruqeru | Terio Tamani |
| France | Nisie Huyard | Ethan Dumortier |
| Ireland | Fergus Jemphrey Hugo Lennox |
Jordan Conroy Andrew Smith (debut) |
| Japan | Chikara Morita Larry Sulunga Kavaia Tagivetaua Netani Vakayalia |
Taiga Ishida (debut) Kameli Soejima Shun Tomonaga (debut) Shoga Tokota (debut) |
| Kenya | Levy Amunga | Kelvin Wekesa (debut) |
| South Africa | Muller du Plessis | n/a |
| Spain | Alejandro Sánchez | Francisco Soriano (debut) |
The tournament begins on Friday at 12:44am Eastern time (9:44pm Thursday Pacific). Live broadcasts will be available on the CBC Sports website in Canada, Peacock TV in the USA, ESPN in South America, and on the World Rugby website for those located abroad.
A full fixture list can be seen here.
MEN’S POOL A
GREAT BRITAIN
Jamie Barden, Tom Bowen, Alex Davis, Jamie Farndale, Robbie Fergusson (capt.), Paddy Kelly, Ross McCann, Max McFarland, Freddie Roddick, Luke Treharne, Will Trenholm, Morgan Williams, Tom Williams
IRELAND
Niall Comerford, Jordan Conroy, Sean Cribbin, Billy Dardis (capt.), Ed Kelly, Jack Kelly, Terry Kennedy, Aaron O’Sullivan, Jude Postlethwaite, Mark Roche, Andrew Smith, Liam Turner, Zac Ward
JAPAN
Johnny Fa’auli (capt.), Moeki Fukushi, Taisei Hayashi, Taiga Ishida, Ryota Kano, Aseri Masivou, Kazuma Nakagawa, Kameli Soejima, Tumanawa Tawhai, Shoga Tokota, Shun Tomonaga, Shotaro Tsuoka, Tomoya Yamamura
SOUTH AFRICA
Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids, Zain Davids, Branco du Preez, Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, JC Pretorius, Tiaan Pretorius, Siviwe Soyizwapi (capt.), Impi Visser, Shilton van Wyk, Shaun Williams
MEN’S POOL B
AUSTRALIA
Ben Dowling, Stuart Dunbar, Henry Hutchison, Kristian Jensen, Nick Malouf (capt.), Bill Meakes, Henry Paterson, Dietrich Roache, Jed Stuart, Corey Toole, Josh Turner, Solomone Vosaicake, Yool Yool
CANADA
Nick Allen, D’Shawn Bowen, Cooper Coats, Andrew Coe, Jarvis Dashkewytch, Elias Ergas, Thomas Isherwood, Lockie Kratz, Josiah Morra, Cody Nhanala, Brennig Prevost, Theo Sauder (capt.), Brock Webster
KENYA
Edmund Anyaa, Herman Humwa, Alvin Marube, Timothy Mmasi, Bush Mwale, Billy Odhiambo, Johnstone Olindi, Jeff Oluoch, Anthony Omondi, Alvin Otieno, Nelson Oyoo (capt.), Daniel Taabu, Kelvin Wekesa
USA
Perry Baker, Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, Naima Fuala’au, Martin Iosefo, Carlin Isles, Lucas Lacamp, Matai Leuta, Folau Niua, Joe Schroeder, Logan Tago, Stephen Tomasin, Marcus Tupuola, Kevon Williams (capt.)
MEN’S POOL C
ARGENTINA
Santiago Álvarez (capt.), Joaquín de la Vega, Felipe del Mestre, Tomás Elizalde, Luciano González Rizzoni, Matteo Graziano, Rodrigo Isgro, Joaquín Lamas, Tomás Lizazu, Marcos Moneta, Gastón Revol, Germán Schulz, Santiago Vera Feld
FIJI
Elia Canakaivata, Tevita Daugunu, Manueli Maisamoa, Jeremaia Matana, Waisea Nacuqu, Kaminieli Rasaku, Iowane Raturaciri, Filipe Sauturaga, Joseva Talacolo, Terio Tamani, Iowane Teba, Josua Vakurunabili (capt.), Daniele Yaya
FRANCE
Ethan Dumortier, Nelson Épée, William Iraguha, Jonathan Laugel, Pierre Mignot, Marvin O’Connor, Stephen Parez, Varian Pasquet, Rayan Rebbadj, Paulin Riva (capt.), Jordan Sepho, Alexandre Tchaptchet, Joachim Trouabal
SPAIN
Javier de Juan (capt.), Eduardo López, Juan Martínez, Jaime Mata, Manuel Moreno, Nico Nieto, Alex Pérez, Pol Pla, Juan Ramos, Tiago Romero, Tobías Sainz-Trápaga, Josep Serres, Francisco Soriano
