Dubai draw made

Reigning championsNew Zealandare back to defend their crown – they claimed the title for the past two seasons, but competition will be even tougher this year with a spot in Rio up for grabs. They have been drawn inPool Aalongside Euopean ChampionsRussia, USAandAsian Games gold medalistsChina.

Australiaran New Zealand extremely close last season, with the series coming down to the wire at the last round in Amsterdam in May. Tim Walsh’s team are drawn inPool BwithSpainand two of the newly promoted teamsFrance and South Africa.

Pool Cprobably best qualifies for the epithet "Group of Death" as it is made up ofCanadaandEnglandwho will both be targeting top four finished this season and will be buoyed by their Fifteens players performances at this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, along with much-fanciedFiji,who won the core team qualifier in September, as well as guest team and Olympic Games' hostsBrazil(who will also be the guest team in rounds 2, 3 and 4). Netherlands are expected to be guest team in the Amsterdam leg of the series, but no information has yet been released about the team who will guest in London.

The third IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, which kicks off in Dubai, has been extended to six tournaments this year, following the success of the previous two seasons, and will act as the first stage of the Olympic qualification process, with the first four teams at the end of the series qualifying for Rio. All other teams will have to qualify via regional tournaments.

IRB Sevens General Manager Avan Lee said: "Women’s Sevens has never been bigger and this season is very important for the series and also for the growth of the Game."

"With four qualification places to the Olympic Games 2016 on offer, the competitiveness and intensity of women’s Sevens is on the increase. I am confident that we will see some outstanding Rugby in this season's expanded IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, which is a reflection of the ever increasing popularity of the women’s Game."