Five reasons to tune in to the men’s HSBC SVNS Dubai

The game has just about had time to take a breath after a stunning first HSBC SVNS season morphed into the global phenomenon that was the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Now, refreshed, reenergised and packed full of brand new storylines, we are back for more. 

Below are just some of the reasons why you will not want to miss a moment: 

1. That unique SVNS magic

For the uninitiated the HSBC SVNS is pretty special: a selection of the world's fittest and quickest athletes going full gas for 14 minutes and scoring, on average, a try every 75 seconds. Add on sunshine, a handful of the planet's greatest cities and a mass of passionate fans and you can see why anticipation levels are stratospheric. 

New Zealand versus the USA kicks it all off on Saturday morning. Sixty-three men's matches then follow in less than 36 hours. France's remarkable run to double glory last season (more below) allied to seven different teams making it to at least one SVNS final in 2023/24 underlines just how wonderfully unpredictable the men's game is. 

2. Plenty of Paris power 

From Terry Kennedy (IRL) to Filipe Sauturaga (FIJ) via Ryan Oosthuizen (RSA) there will be plenty of faces on show in the Dubai Sevens Stadiums to stir memories of those six glorious August days in Paris. But those with an Olympic interest will not only be focused on the players. 

In a week that he became the first ever sevens head honcho to claim the title of World Rugby's Coach of the year, Jérôme Daret will be hoping he can inspire his charges to maintain their incredible run of form - even if it is now from afar. 

After driving the team to a first world series win in 19 years in March, followed by the SVNS Champions title in June and then Olympic gold in August, Daret has taken up position as general manager for the entire French men's sevens programme. 

His successor on the sidelines, Benoît Baby, has big boots to fill. Watch this space. 

3. Mouth-watering pool-stage match-ups 

You would be hard-pressed to pick just one must-watch match on day one. The final game of the day might just take it. Reigning SVNS and Olympic champions France close out Saturday's action against Pool A adversaries in South Africa. Not only have the Blitzboks won the past three Dubai sevens titles in a row, but they also recovered from a seventh-place league finish last season to grab Olympic bronze. 

Over in Pool B deep rivalries grab the spotlight. Last season's SVNS league winners Argentina will take on their newly promoted fellow South Americans Uruguay, while the blood will be running just as hot when neighbours Ireland take on Great Britain. 

If that is not enough, perennial sevens heavyweights Fiji face Pacific Island rivals New Zealand in Pool C. 

4. Players you can't take your eyes off 

A mix of fan favourites and new faces fill the 12 squads on show in Dubai. Here are three of our picks to shine:

Argentina romped to the SVNS league title last season and have so many star names to choose from. But all of them have to give way to Marcos Moneta. It is no wonder the wing, who has scored 129 tries in 144 matches, is a former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year. 

Meanwhile, Cody Vai (NZL) may just be the next All Black superstar off the sevens conveyor belt. At 20-year-old, the 1.88m lightening quick wing has got it all. Keep your eyes on him. 

Finally, it will be fascinating to see how a French squad shorn of Antoine Dupont's star power, not to mention the lure of a home Olympic Games, fares this time around. The initial signs are good, a phalanx of youthful promise - teenager Gregoire Arfeuil is one of six squad players making their debut at this level - having been integrated alongside plenty of experience. 

5. New nations to watch

Uruguay and Kenya secured promotion to the top table last season and deserve plenty of attention. The South Americans, a firm fixture in the 15-a-side game, took the HSBC Challenger Series title ahead of their African rivals before both came through the high-stakes SVNS Playoffs in June. 

While Kenya have a proud sevens history, as former World Series winners and World Cup semi-finalists, Uruguay will be looking to make their mark. Both boast standout stars. Keep an eye out for Dr Diego Ardao, Uruguay's playmaker and regular try scorer. Patrick Odongo Okong'o is also one to watch. At 89kg and 1.86m, the 22-year-old has all the tools.