Tickets on sale today for biggest ever Dubai Rugby 7S

Taking place at the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club from December 1-3, the tournament - the opening round of the IRB Sevens - is already widely recognised as the best sporting and social event in the region.

With more teams and players than ever before, plus the fact that rugby's powerhouse nations will be using the event to build up their fitness and tactics for the 2005 Sevens World Cup, tickets for this year's rugby showcase are expected to sell out well in advance of the opening day's play.

'The grandstands have been filled to capacity for the past few years,' said Gary Chapman, President of DNATA and Associated Companies, Emirates Group. 'We expect this year to be no different with over 24,000 spectators filling the ground to maximum capacity.

'Interest is again widespread with the build up to next year's Sevens World Cup adding even greater spice so we are advising fans to get their tickets early to avoid possible disappointment later. With the National Day holiday also coinciding with the tournament, we also expect a bigger influx of spectators from throughout the UAE.'

Tickets are now available from all MMI outlets, the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club, Long's Bar, Left Bank, the DNATA Airline Centres, Sharjah Wanderers, Virgin Megastore and Hallmark outlets.

On the pitch, defending champions South Africa will lead the charge for the Emirates International Trophy in what is a world-class 16-nation line-up that includes last year's runners-up New Zealand and fast and powerful squads from such rugby strongholds as England, Australia, Fiji, Argentina, France and Samoa.