The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is one of the most popular and eagerly anticipated events on the Dubai sporting calendar, and this year promises to be even bigger and better with the announcement yesterday that for the first time ever, the event will also feature a netball tournament.

The three day annual sporting extravaganza, being held this year from 3rd-5th December, is now in its 46th year and attracts the world's best players vying for honours in the Men's and Women's Sevens World Series, as well as over three thousand players in 250 teams in the Invitation Tournament. In a decision which reflects the growth and diversity of the event, joining them at the Sevens this year will be over 16 netball teams playing for the inaugural netball trophy.

Gary Chapman, President Group Services and Dnata, Emirates Group, said yesterday, "The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is not just about the rugby, although of course that is the centrepiece of this iconic event. This event is significant in that it showcases Dubai, and brings the city together like no other event on the sporting calendar. It is a celebration of sport and plays an important role in attracting visitors from around the region and around the world, and the addition of the netball tournament will increase the appeal and reach of the event even further.

"We are very proud of our reputation as a great event for families and for those who are not necessarily die-hard rugby supporters. Embracing the whole community and providing exciting and innovative entertainment and services for all the family has always been of paramount importance to us, and we are pleased to announce the inclusion of the netball tournament which we believe is an important step in providing even more opportunities for involvement in this wonderful event. In order to ensure we continually raise the bar, we will also be stepping up with further enhancements to the overall entertainment programme around the main rugby pitches" Chapman added.

Invitation Tournament Manager, Jill Conlon, said, " The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is unique in that it is the only event on the Sevens World Series which hosts multiple tournaments concurrently, the Men's Sevens World Series, the Women's Sevens World Series and the Invitation Tournament, which now includes the netball tournament, all at the one location.
Source: WAM