Dubai Sevens magic moments: Blitzboks and Aussie dominance

The Dubai Sevens has had an uninterrupted run as an HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (SVNS) event since 1999 and 2012, when women joined the circuit. However, both events have histories that predate SVNS.

The first Dubai Sevens was held in 1970 when the Staffordshire Regiment were the first ever champions of an event orgainsed by British expats. In 1987, the association with Emirates Airlines began. In 1994, the first women’s competition was held, won by Kuwait, which defeated the Royal Hong Kong Police in the final.

In 1999, Dubai kick-started the World Sevens Series, and the event has become one of the most well-attended, most anticipated, and long-standing sports and entertainment events in the Middle East.

1999: New Zealand Wins First SVNS Title

The first SVNS event was held at the Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground on December 2 and 3, 1999.

New Zealand dominated Pool Play, scoring 106 points while conceding none. However, they were nearly stunned by Canada in the quarter-finals, narrowly winning 21-19. New Zealand then regrouped and delivered a commanding 31-0 victory over South Africa in the semi-finals, setting up a final against Fiji. Fiji had impressed by outscoring their five opponents 135-36 on their way to the final.

The decider was intense, featuring two brawls and an incident where Brad Fleming was “clotheslined” while scoring a 50-meter runaway try.

Ultimately, New Zealand showcased superior composure and execution, pulling away to win the match 38-14. All Black Dallas Seymour scored a try, while Orene Ai’i, who was named the New Zealand Rugby Sevens player of the year in 1999, contributed four tries with his cunning and skill.

Remarkably, Ai’i, who played 25 tournaments for the All Blacks Sevens, continued to play professional rugby for the LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby as of 2022, at the age of 42.

In the inaugural year of the World Series, both New Zealand and Fiji won five of the ten tournaments. However, New Zealand clinched the overall title after winning the final event in Paris, while Fiji was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

In the first Dubai Women’s Sevens, part of the SVNS, New Zealand overwhelmed South Africa, winning the final 41-0. The team was captained by World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Huriana Manuel and included notable players such as Sarah Hirini, Carla Hohepa, Chyna Hohepa, Linda Itunu, Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan Wong, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

Interestingly, former New Zealand captain and current World Rugby commentator Karl Tenana scored the first-ever series try in Dubai during a 14-0 victory over Tonga on October 2, 1999. In 2012, Tricia Brown of Australia scored the first women’s series try, contributing to a 24-12 win over the Netherlands.

2012: Samoa Shocks 

Samoa is the only country, aside from New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, and England, to have won the Dubai Sevens title as part of the SVNS.

Their victory occurred during the second event of the 2012/13 series, which began with Fiji winning on the Gold Coast.

On a day that New Zealand rugby fans might want to forget—where both the All Blacks and the Black Ferns lost to England—Samoa got off to a remarkable start in the final. Paul Perez scored just 20 seconds into the match, directly from the kickoff.

Early in the second half, the score was tight at 19-15, with Perez scoring again. However, it was a try by Tulolo Tulolo that put the game out of reach for New Zealand, securing a historic victory for Samoa. Enroute to the final, Samoa stumbled in pool play against England 19-17 but accounted for Portugal 24-19 and South Africa 10-5 before flipping Wales 19-7 and France 12-5 in the quarter and semi-finals.

Ironically, Perez attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He played three games for Whanganui and 38 for Taranaki, scoring 17 tries. However, in May 2010, he was deported back to Samoa after being convicted on two counts of domestic assault against his pregnant partner.

He rehabilitated himself to play 26 Tests for Samoa, including the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, he played for Eastern Province, the Sharks, and Toulouse. He also represented Samoa at the 2005 Sevens World Cup held in Hong Kong. In the 2009/10 season, Samoa won the SVNS league title.

Samoa was only fourth in the last season’s Challenger Series.

2019: Blitzboks Blank All Blacks Sevens 

South Africa is the most successful country in the history of the Dubai Sevens, boasting 11 victories. Seven of these wins occurred over eight years from 2016 to 2023, including five consecutive titles from 2019 to 2023. Notably, the event was held twice in 2021.

During this period, South Africa achieved an imposing record of 41 wins and a single defeat, against Great Britain 14-5 in pool play in 2022.

South Africa matched England’s record of 16 consecutive wins between 2004 and 2006, from 2015 to 2018 and then passed it with 18 successive victories from 2019 to 2022.

The 2019 victory was perhaps the most remarkable. After suffering three defeats in 2018, the Blitzboks won three out of their first four matches by a converted try or less. They then found their rhythm in the semifinals, overpowering Samoa 38-7. In the final, stingy defence and tries from Siviwe Soyizwapi, Chris Dry, and Seabelo Senatla secured a 15-0 victory over the All Blacks Sevens. It marked only the second time New Zealand lost a cup final without scoring.

With a total of 230 tries, Senatla ranks as the fifth-highest try scorer in Sevens World Series history.

2023-24: The Miller/Levi Show

The last two finals have been blockbuster affairs between Australia and the Black Ferns Sevens, both won by Australia, who are currently on a 24-match winning streak in Dubai.

The 2023 final was particularly memorable as Australia ended the Black Ferns’ 41-game winning streak. The match had a dramatic start, with Australia scoring after just 23 seconds when Bienne Tarita crossed for a try.

Jorja Miller responded with two tries for the Black Ferns before the five-minute mark. However, Teagan Levi scored just before halftime, giving Australia a 14-12 lead. She then added another try shortly after the restart, extending the lead to 19-12.

Miller completed her hat trick in the 11th minute, and Tenika Willison added the conversion to level the score. However, Maddison Levi had the final say after the Black Ferns conceded consecutive penalties. The Black Ferns made a valiant last-ditch attack but were unable to overcome the deficit.

The Black Ferns missed the Cup finals in Cape Town and Perth but, powered by Miller, who won the Kel Tremain Memorial Award for the best rugby player in New Zealand in 2024, rallied to win the last four Cup tournaments. This success allowed them to capture the SVNS league and world championship titles. The Black Ferns then defended their Olympic gold medal in Paris.

Australia, seeking retribution, started the 2024/25 SVNS season by winning in Dubai for the fourth consecutive year. This week also marked Bella Nasser taking over the captaincy from Charlotte Caslick. Nasser led the Australians from the outset, securing a turnover in the second phase of the game. Tries from Faith Nathan and Teagan Levi helped Australia establish a 14-0 lead, and Nasser herself scored just before halftime.

However, the Black Ferns fought back, with tries from Theresa Setefano and Manaia Nuku putting New Zealand ahead by three points.

Despite this surge, Maddison Levi, the leading try scorer from the last two SVNS seasons, made a game-changing play. She intercepted a pass on her goal line and sprinted 90 meters for a try with just two minutes left, marking her 15th try of the event—the most by an individual in a single tournament.