Osea Kolinisau (Fiji)
Age: 31
Height: 5 ft 9
Weight: 90kgs
Fifth on the list of top active point-scorers with 1.026 points, Kolinisau may be a true hero of the game globally but he has his own fan following in Dubai having debuted here in the 2008 Dubai Sevens tournament and captained Fiji to their first Dubai 7s win three years ago. No doubt, he will be the man the small Pacific nation will be looking to for inspiration once again when they set out for their title Dubai defence this weekend following their historic Gold at the Rio Olympics earlier in the summer.
Seabelo Senatla (South Africa)
Age: 23
Height: 6 ft 1
Weight: 76kgs
At 23, the Stormers winger is already a sensation if his past two World Rugby Sevens Series seasons are anything to go by, finishing both campaigns for the Blitzboks with top number of tries. No surprises why the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist holds his place amongst names like Kyle Brown, Chris Dry, Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez.
Scott Curry (New Zealand)
Age: 28
Height: 6 ft 4
Weight: 100kgs
A trained science teacher, Curry stepped into the captaincy role vacated by DJ Forbes in 2015 before capping off a stellar season with the New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year award. Back in the fold after a brief shoulder injury, Curry will be leading the legendary All Blacks Sevens once again with his strength and pace.
Collins Injera (Kenya)
Age: 30
Height: 6 ft 1
Weight: 80kgs
If there is a living legend in the game that is still around then that is Injera, arguably the tournament’s most recognisable name. After all, when it comes to scoring tries, there is no one better in the world of rugby sevens than the 30-year old who leads the all-time table with 235. Lean, mean and fast, expect that tally to grow when the Mwanba RFC winger takes to the Sevens Stadium with his fellow Kenyans on Friday.
Dubai Rugby Sevens Series – Women
Hannah Darling (Canada)
Age: 20
Height: 5 ft 9
Weight: 72kgs
This long-haired beauty could easily pass off as an international model but she has shown many a time for both her club Peterborough Pagans and the Canada Women’s team that she can be a darling with the crowd on the rugby pitch too. A gold medallist at the 2015Pan American Games, she was also part of Canada’s first ever rugby sevens Olympics team this summer.
Tiana Penitani (Australia)
Age: 20
Height: 5 ft 81/2
Weight: 71kgs
Defending champions Australia will be aiming for a third Dubai triumph after winning in 2013 as and a key member of the squad is going to be Penitani, who is making a return from injury this weekend. A gold medallist at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, she was also Australia’s youngest ever rugby player at 17 years and 163 days.
Abbie Brown (England)
Age: 20
Height: 5 feet 91/2
Weight: 71kgs
The England Women sevens captain scored twice against Fiji to help Team Great Britain into the semis of the inaugural women’s sevens at an Olympics this summer. Three months on and the young Bristol centre is ready to fire yet again in front of what should be a huge huge English turnout.
