Sevens training resumes as IRB announces schedule

Australian Sevens Coach Glen Ellla has just under three months to select and prepare a team for the first tournament of the IRB Sevens series in Dubai on 1-2 December.

The IRB Sevens schedule was released last night, with four of the eight tournaments to take place prior to the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Melbourne.

The circuit will then travel to Hong Kong, Singapore and Paris before culminating in London.

Ella said preparations for the upcoming season were already well underway.

"We have been running Sevens-specific training sessions with about 40 players in Sydney and Brisbane, and will include more players in the programme as teams get knocked out of the Premier Rugby competitions," Ella said.

"Once the club Rugby is over, we will hold training camps in Sydney and Brisbane, and also have a look at the talent at the Byron Bay Sevens (15-16 October) and the Penrith Sevens (29 October).

"We will then finalise a squad to play in the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens on 5-6 November which will give us a good preparation for the first IRB tournament in Dubai.

"With the Commonwealth Games just 190 days away, we want to make the most of the IRB tournaments and give ourselves the best possible preparation for Melbourne."

IRB Sevens 2005/06 Schedule

Commonwealth Games Sevens, Melbourne, March 16-17
(not part of the IRB Sevens series)