This archive report was first published on 13 October 2021.
The 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is set to kick off in Dubai next month, with the Kenya national men's sevens rugby team, Shujaa, leading the charge.
According to World Rugby, the 2022 Series will feature 10 men's and seven women's rounds over six months, with the men's Series beginning with two legs in Dubai in November and December.
The Emirates Dubai Sevens will host a behind-closed-doors round in November, followed by a second event in December with fans in attendance at The Sevens Stadium.
The Series will then move to Europe, with Spain hosting combined men's and women's events in Malaga and Seville in January.
Traditional Series hosts Sydney, Australia, and Hamilton, New Zealand, will not be hosting events in 2022 due to logistical challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in their region.
Japan will join the men's Series as a core team, following their promotion as HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series champions in 2020.
Great Britain will compete in the opening two rounds of the Series in Dubai, before reverting to compete as national unions for the remainder of the 2022 Series.
South Africa will enter the 2022 Series as defending champions, while New Zealand will be aiming to defend their women's title after being crowned champions in 2020.
