2021 Dubai Sevens

2021 Dubai Sevens
Sevens World Series XXIII
Host nation	United Arab Emirates
Dubai – Event I
Date	26–27 November 2021
Champion	South Africa
Runner-up	United States
Third	Argentina
Tournament details
Matches played	34
Tries scored	205 (average 6.03 per match)
Dubai – Event II
Date	3–4 December 2021
Champion	South Africa
Runner-up	Australia
Third	Argentina
Tournament details
Matches played	34
Tries scored	212 (average 6.24 per match)
← 2019 2022 →

The 2021 Dubai Sevens was held as two rugby sevens tournaments on consecutive weekends in late November and early December that year. They were played as the fifty-first season of the Dubai Sevens, following the cancellation of the 2020 tournament due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These events in Dubai were the opening tournaments of the 2021–22 World Rugby Sevens Series. Due to ongoing impacts of the pandemic, the first event was played behind closed doors on 26–27 November 2021, with no spectators allowed. The second event was played on 3–4 December in front of full crowds.

As only twelve men's teams instead of the usual sixteen competed in 2021 at Dubai, the Olympic format of three pools with four teams in each was used for both tournaments. The Sevens stadium in Dubai provided two fields for use in these events, which allowed matches in overlapping time slots to be played.

South Africa won back-to-back titles in Dubai, defeating the United States in the final of the first tournament and Australia in the final of the second tournament.

Format

The twelve teams at each tournament were drawn into three pools of four teams each. A round-robin was held for each pool, where every team played each of the other three in their pool once. The top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed on comparative pool standings, advanced to the Cup quarterfinals to compete for tournament honours. The other teams from each pool went to the challenge playoffs for ninth to twelfth place.

Teams

The twelve national men's teams competing at both tournaments in Dubai were:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Fiji
• France
• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Japan
• Kenya
• South Africa
• Spain
• United States

Core teams eligible to play but not participating at Dubai were:

• England, Scotland and Wales, who were represented by Great Britain for the first two tournaments of the 2021–22 Series, before competing again as separate national unions for the remainder of the series.
• New Zealand and Samoa, who did not participate in Dubai due to the challenges of COVID-19 travel logistics.

Dubai: Event I

The first tournament was held with no crowd in attendance at The Sevens stadium in Dubai on 26–27 November 2021. South Africa won the tournament, defeating United States by 42–7 in the final.

All times in UAE Standard Time (UTC+4:00). The pools were scheduled as follows:

Key:   Team advanced to the quarterfinals

Pool A – Event I

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Fiji	3	0	0	70	43	+27	9
Australia	2	0	1	64	46	+18	7
France	1	0	2	53	55	−2	5
Canada	0	0	3	47	90	−43	3

26 November 11:00

Australia	35–19	Canada
Try: Nick Malouf 3' Maurice Longbottom 11' Dietrich Roache 13' Billy Meakes 14' Josh Turner 15' Con: Maurice Longbottom 4',11',14',16' Dietrich Roache 13'	Report	Try: Josiah Morra 1',9' Nicholas Allen 7' Con: Cooper Coats 2',9'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier

26 November 11:22

Fiji	24–17	France
Try: Filipe Sauturaga 5',9' Kaminieli Rasaku 9' Iowane Teba 11' Con: Iowane Teba 6' Waisea Nacuqu 9'	Report	Try: Jordan Sepho 2' Nelson Epee 14', 16' Con: William Iraguha 15'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: AJ Jacobs

26 November 14:30

Australia	17–10	France
Try: Corey Toole 5' Dietrich Roache 8' Henry Hutchison 12' Con: Dietrich Roache 12'	Report	Try: Jordan Sepho 10' Nelson Epee 14'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Ben Breakspear

26 November 14:52

Fiji	29–14	Canada
Try: Iowane Teba 1' Kaminieli Rasaku 3',12' Joseva Talacolo 5' Iowane Raturaciri 14' Con: Iowane Teba 6' Waisea Nacuqu 13'	Report	Try: Josiah Morra 8' Cooper Coats 8' Con: Cooper Coats 8',8'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jaco De Wit

26 November 18:35

Canada	14–26	France
Try: Josiah Morra 6' Andrew Coe 8' Con: Cooper Coats 7', 9'	Report	Try: Varian Pasquet 2' Paulin Riva 5',11' Jordan Sepho 14' Con: Paulin Riva 5',12'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

26 November 19:33

Fiji	17–12	Australia
Try: Iowane Teba 3',12' Iowane Raturaciri 15' Con: Daniele Yaya 15'	Report	Try: Josh Turner 7' Ben Dowling 9' Con: Dietrich Roache 8'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: AJ Jacobs

Pool B – Event I

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Argentina	2	1	0	71	45	+26	8
United States	1	1	1	42	40	+2	6
Kenya	1	0	2	50	48	+2	5
Spain	1	0	2	31	61	−30	5

26 November 10:16

United States	14–7	Kenya
Try: Steve Tomasin 6' Logan Tago 10' Con: Steve Tomasin 7',10'	Report	Try: Herman Humwa 8' Con: Daniel Taabu 8'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra

26 November 10:38

Argentina	28–7	Spain
Try: Luciano Gonzalez 3',8' Joaquin de la Vega 5' Tomas Lizazu 13' Con: Felipe Del Mestre 4',6' Lautaro Bazan Velez 8' Santiago Vera Feld 14'	Report	Try: Pol Pla 10' Con: Juan Ramos 11'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

26 November 14:08

United States	7–12	Spain
Try: Gavan D'Amore 5' Con: Steve Tomasin 5'	Report	Try: Eduardo Lopez 9' Juan Martinez 10' Con: Juan Martinez 9'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: AJ Jacobs

26 November 14:30

Argentina	22–17	Kenya
Try: Luciano Gonzalez 3', 5' German Schulz 13' Santiago Alvarez 16' Con: Santiago Vera Feld 5'	Report	Try: Alvin Otieno 6' Levy Amunga 8' Jeff Oluoch 9' Con: Levy Amunga 9'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier

26 November 17:02

Kenya	26–12	Spain
Try: Johnstone Olindi 6' Billy Odhiambo 8',12' Herman Humwa 8' Con: Levy Amunga 6' Anthony Omondi 9',12'	Report	Try: Eduardo Lopez 2' Juan Ramos 13' Con: Juan Martinez 2'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Ben Breakspear

26 November 17:24

Argentina	21–21	United States
Try: Tomas Lizazu 8' Santiago Alvarez 9' Con: Tomas Lizazu 8' Joaquin Lamas 10'	Report	Try: Carlin Isles 3',7' Steve Tomasin 14' Con: Steve Tomasin 4',8',14'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jaco De Wit

Pool C – Event I

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	0	0	111	31	+80	9
Great Britain	2	0	1	55	62	−7	7
Ireland	1	0	2	59	54	+5	5
Japan	0	0	3	24	102	−78	3

26 November 09:32

South Africa	28–7	Ireland
Try: Selvyn Davids 2',8' Ronald Brown 8',15' Con: Selvyn Davids 3',8' Ronald Brown 9',15'	Report	Try: Sean Cribbin 13' Con: Sean Cribbin 13'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Ben Breakspear

26 November 09:54

Great Britain	17–12	Japan
Try: Robbie Ferguson 2' Alex Davis 9' Max McFarland 11' Con: Luke Treharne 12'	Report	Try: Kavaia Tagivetaua 7' Jonathan Faauli 15' Con: Ryota Kano 8'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jaco De Wit

26 November 13:24

South Africa	52–12	Japan
Try: Muller du Plessis 2' Siviwe Soyizwapi 5', 7' Selvyn Davids 6',12' Zain Davids 8' Christie Grobbelaar 11' Shaun Williams 14' Con: Ronald Brown 2',5',6',8',11' Branco du Preez 13'	Report	Try: Netani Vakayalia 4' Tomoya Yamamura 9' Con: Ryota Kano 4'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

26 November 13:46

Great Britain	26–19	Ireland
Try: Jamie Farndale 3' Ross McCann 8' Tom Bowen 13' Jamie Barden 14' Con: Robbie Fergusson 9',13' Jamie Barden 15'	Report	Try: Jude Postlethwaite 6' Terry Kennedy 9' Niall Comerford 10' Con: Billy Dardis 7',9'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra

26 November 16:08

Ireland	33–0	Japan
Try: Terry Kennedy 1',5',9' Liam Turner 4' Ed Kelly 14' Con: Mark Roche 4',5',9 Billy Dardis 15'	Report

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra

26 November 16:40

Great Britain	12–31	South Africa
Try: Robbie Fergusson 3' Ross McCann 9' Con: Frederick Roddick 9'	Report	Try: Muller du Plessis 5' Siviwe Soyizwapi 7, 12' Impi Visser 10' Branco du Preez 14' Con: Ronald Brown 5', 11', 15'

The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier

9th to 12th playoffs – Event I

	9th place semifinals				9th place final
	27 Nov 2021 – 12:01 – The Sevens
	Spain	45
					27 Nov 2021 – 15:24 – The Sevens
	Canada	14
					Spain	26
	27 Nov 2021 – 12:23 – The Sevens
					France	28
	France	35
	Japan	0
					11th place final
					27 Nov 2021 – 15:02 – The Sevens
					Canada	22
					Japan	14

Matches

9th place semifinals 27 November 12:01 Spain 45–14 Canada Try: De La Rosa 1' 3' Ramos 4' 9' Moreno 8' 11' 11' 13' Con: Ramos 2' 4' 5' 8' 9' Report Try: Coe 6' Bowen 16' Con: Coats 6' 16' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier 27 November 12:23 France 35–0 Japan Try: Trouabal 1' 6' Tchaptchet 9' Epee 12' Sepho 14' Con: Iraguha 1' 6' 9' 13' Riva 15' Report The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Ben Breakspear 11th place final 27 November 15:02 Canada 22–14 Japan Try: Allen 4' 8' Sauder 6' 9' Con: Coats 4' Report Try: Tawhai 14' Tsuoka 15' Con: Tawhai 14' Hayashi 15' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jaco De Wit 9th place final 27 November 15:24 Spain 26–28 France Try: Moreno 2' Lopez 6' 7' Romero 10' Con: Ramos 3' 7' 8' Report Try: Huyard 4' Rebbadj 9' Sepho 12' Epee 15' Con: Riva 5' 10' 12' Parez 15' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi

5th to 8th playoffs – Event I

	5th place semifinals				5th place final
	27 Nov 2021 – 13:29 – The Sevens
	Ireland	14
					27 Nov 2021 – 17:15 – The Sevens
	Australia	35
					Australia	35
	27 Nov 2021 – 13:51 – The Sevens
					Great Britain	21
	Great Britain	33
	Kenya	5
					7th place final
					27 Nov 2021 – 16:13 – The Sevens
					Ireland	29
					Kenya	7

Matches

5th place semifinals 27 November 13:29 Ireland 14–35 Australia Try: Kennedy 13' Comerford 15' Con: Roche 13' 15' Report Try: Toole 2' Malouf 4' Roache 8' 9' Turner 10' Con: Roache 2' 4' 8' 9' 11' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: AJ Jacobs 27 November 13:51 Great Britain 33–5 Kenya Try: Williams 2' Roddick 9' Barden 12' Bowen 14' Trenholm 15' Con: Roddick 2' 10' 13' 15' Report Try: Otieno 5' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra 7th place final 27 November 16:13 Ireland 29–7 Kenya Try: Kennedy 2' 7' 9' O'Sullivan 5' Kelly 15' Con: Roche 2' 7' Report Try: Humwa 11' Con: Omondi 12' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Ben Breakspear 5th place final 27 November 17:15 Australia 35–21 Great Britain Try: Roache 1' Hutchison 5' Toole 9' 11' Turner 12' Con: Roache 2' 6' 9' 11' 13' Report Try: Williams 7' Kelly 14' Farndale 15' Con: Roddick 8' Fergusson 14' 15' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra

Cup playoffs – Event I

	Quarterfinals				Semifinals				Final
	27 Nov 2021 – 10:28 – The Sevens
	Argentina	17
					27 Nov 2021 – 14:18 – The Sevens
	Ireland	12
					Argentina	7
	27 Nov 2021 – 10:50 – The Sevens
					South Africa	17
	South Africa	29
									27 Nov 2021 – 19:26 – The Sevens
	Australia	5
									South Africa	42
	27 Nov 2021 – 11:12 – The Sevens
									United States	7
	United States	35
					27 Nov 2021 – 14:40 – The Sevens
	Great Britain	17
					United States	21
	27 Nov 2021 – 11:34 – The Sevens
					Fiji	19			3rd place final
	Fiji	19
									27 Nov 2021 – 18:29 – The Sevens
	Kenya	5
									Argentina	19
									Fiji	12

Matches

Quarterfinals 27 November 10:28 Argentina 17–12 Ireland Try: Schulz 1' Del Mestre 3' Lizazu 16' Con: Gonzalez 3' Report Try: Kennedy 6' 10' Con: Roche 10' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Morne Ferierra 27 November 10:50 South Africa 29–5 Australia Try: JC Pretorius 2' Soyizwapi 6' 10' S Davids 11' T Pretorius 15' Con: Du Preez 15' Report Try: Hutchison 8' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi 27 November 11:12 United States 35–17 Great Britain Try: Iosefo 2' Williams 6' 14' Baker 10' Isles 12' Con: Tomasin 3' 7' 10' 12' 15' Report Try: Farndale 5' Fergusson 10' McCann 8' Con: Fergusson 11' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: AJ Jacobs 27 November 11:34 Fiji 19–5 Kenya Try: Talacolo 6' Sauturaga 9' Qeruqeru 11' Con: Nacuqu 7' 10' Report Try: Humwa 4' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jaco De Wit Semifinals 27 November 14:18 Argentina 7–17 South Africa Try: Isgro 5' Con: Gonzalez 6' Report Try: Van Wyk 7' Soyizwapi 11' JC Pretorius 14' Con: Brown 7' The Sevens, Dubai 27 November 14:40 United States 21–19 Fiji Try: Isles 7' Lacamp 9' Leuta 12' Con: Tomasin 7' 10' 12' Report Try: Teba 3' Sauturaga 5' Rasaku 9' Con: Nacuqu 4' 6' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier 3rd place final 27 November 18:29 Argentina 19–12 Fiji Try: Lamas 2' 8' De la Vega 9' Con: Lamas 9' 9' Report Try: Vakurunabili 7' Qeruqeru 12' Con: Nacuqu 8' The Sevens, Dubai Final 27 November 19:26 South Africa 42–7 United States Try: Brown 2' 8' 8' JC Pretorius 6' S Davids 9' Williams 14' Con: Brown 3' 6' 9' 9' 10' Du Preez 15' Report Try: Lacamp 13' Con: Tomasin 13' The Sevens, Dubai Referee: Jeremy Rozier

Placings – Event I

Place	Team	Points
	South Africa	22
	United States	19
	Argentina	17
4	Fiji	15
5	Australia	13
6	Great Britain	12

Place	Team	Points
7	Ireland	11
8	Kenya	10
9	France	8
10	Spain	7
11	Canada	6
12	Japan	5

Source: World Rugby

Dubai: Event II

The second tournament was played with spectators in attendance at The Sevens stadium in Dubai on 3–4 December 2021. South Africa won the tournament, defeating Australia by 10–7 in the final.

All times in UAE Standard Time (UTC+4:00). The pools were scheduled as follows:

Key:   Team advanced to the quarterfinals

Pool A – Event II

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	0	0	90	19	+71	9
Great Britain	2	0	1	67	56	+11	7
Ireland	1	0	2	74	45	+29	5
Japan	0	0	3	14	125	−111	3

3 December 10:50

Great Britain	24–21	Ireland
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 11:12

South Africa	48–0	Japan
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 14:42

Great Britain	36–14	Japan
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 15:04

South Africa	21–12	Ireland
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 19:35

Ireland	41–0	Japan
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 20:33

South Africa	21–7	Great Britain
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

Pool B – Event II

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Australia	3	0	0	67	50	+17	9
United States	2	0	1	81	57	+24	7
Kenya	1	0	2	61	59	+2	5
Canada	0	0	3	45	88	−43	3

3 December 09:44

Australia	21–14	Kenya
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 10:28

United States	38–14	Canada
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 13:58

Australia	24–17	Canada
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 14:20

United States	24–21	Kenya
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 17:46

Kenya	26–14	Canada
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 18:08

United States	19–22	Australia
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

Pool C – Event II

Team	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Argentina	2	0	1	52	71	−19	7
France	2	0	1	72	55	+17	7
Spain	1	0	2	61	73	−12	5
Fiji	1	0	2	76	62	+14	5

3 December 09:22

Fiji	17–22	France
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 10:06

Argentina	21–14	Spain
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 13:14

Fiji	19–33	Spain
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 13:36

Argentina	24–17	France
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 16:36

France	33–14	Spain
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

3 December 17:24

Argentina	7–40	Fiji
	Report

The Sevens, Dubai

9th to 12th playoffs – Event II

	9th place semifinals				9th place final
	4 Dec 2021 –09:44 – The Sevens
	Fiji	33
					4 Dec 2021 –13:38 – The Sevens
	Canada	19
					Fiji	31
	4 Dec 2021 –10:06 – The Sevens
					Spain	7
	Spain	31
	Japan	7
					11th place final
					4 Dec 2021 –13:16 – The Sevens
					Canada	12
					Japan	21

Matches
9th place semifinals 4 December 09:44 Fiji 33–19 Canada Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 10:06 Spain 31–7 Japan Report The Sevens, Dubai 11th place final 4 December 13:16 Canada 12–21 Japan Report The Sevens, Dubai 9th place final 4 December 13:38 Fiji 31–7 Spain Report The Sevens, Dubai

5th to 8th playoffs – Event II

	5th place semifinals				5th place final
	4 Dec 2021 –13:35 – The Sevens
	Ireland	19
					4 Dec 2021 –17:03 – The Sevens
	Great Britain	24
					Great Britain	10
	4 Dec 2021 –13:57 – The Sevens
					Kenya	5
	United States	0
	Kenya	29
					7th place final
					4 Dec 2021 –17:26 – The Sevens
					Ireland	19
					United States	26

Matches
5th place semifinals 4 December 13:35 Ireland 19–24 Great Britain Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 13:57 United States 0–29 Kenya Report The Sevens, Dubai 7th place final 4 December 17:26 Ireland 19–26 United States Report The Sevens, Dubai 5th place final 4 December 17:03 Great Britain 10–5 Kenya Report The Sevens, Dubai

Cup playoffs – Event II

	Quarterfinals				Semifinals				Final
	4 Dec 2021 –09:44 – The Sevens
	Australia	24
					4 Dec 2021 –14:24 – The Sevens
	Ireland	12
					Australia	40
	4 Dec 2021 –10:06 – The Sevens
					Argentina	0
	Argentina	33
									4 Dec 2021 –19:26 – The Sevens
	Great Britain	12
									Australia	7
	4 Dec 2021 –10:28 – The Sevens
									South Africa	10
	United States	12
					4 Dec 2021 –14:46 – The Sevens
	France	28
					France	12
	4 Dec 2021 –10:50 – The Sevens
					South Africa	19			3rd place final
	South Africa	31
									4 Dec 2021 –18:29 – The Sevens
	Kenya	19
									Argentina	38
									France	21

Matches

Quarterfinals 4 December 09:44 Australia 24–12 Ireland Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 10:06 Argentina 33–12 Great Britain Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 10:28 United States 12–28 France Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 10:50 South Africa 31–19 Kenya Report The Sevens, Dubai Semifinals 4 December 14:24 Australia 40–0 Argentina Report The Sevens, Dubai 4 December 14:46 France 12–19 South Africa Report The Sevens, Dubai 3rd place final 4 December 18:29 Argentina 38–21 France Report The Sevens, Dubai Final 4 December 19:26 Australia 7–10 South Africa Report The Sevens, Dubai

Placings – Event II

Place	Team	Points
	South Africa	22
	Australia	19
	Argentina	17
4	France	15
5	Great Britain	13
6	Kenya	12

Place	Team	Points
7	United States	11
8	Ireland	10
9	Fiji	8
10	Spain	7
11	Japan	6
12	Canada	5

Source: World Rugby

See also

• 2021 Dubai Women's Sevens

External links

• Tournament site
• World Rugby info: Event I
• World Rugby info: Event II