DUBAI // Tickets for December's Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament, one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar, go on sale today.
The tournament, long regarded as an expatriate institution, attracted 130,000 visitors last year and was the first to be staged in the purpose-built Sevens stadium.
Although the event is still three months away, organisers have advised fans to purchase tickets early to ensure they get genuine tickets at face value. Because of the high demand, many were illegally resold at inflated prices in the run-up to the event last year.
Tickets will be available from The Sevens ground on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, Emirates Airline headquarters, the Dnata Travel Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road and Costa coffee shops and MMI outlets across the city.
They can also be purchased online through www.dubairugby7s.com.
The Arabian Gulf side, made up of amateurs from across the region, will provide local interest as they look to upset the champions South Africa and the leading challengers England, New Zealand and Fiji.
As well as the 16 teams participating in the International Rugby Board (IRB) series, the event will see more than 150 local sides, featuring more than 2,000 amateur players. There will be youth, women's and veterans' matches.
The South Africa coach Paul Treu spoke highly of the competition.
"You're not going to get a better atmosphere than at The Sevens," he said. "The Dubai tournament has always been phenomenal, and I'm sure it will be again this year.
"We couldn't ask for a better place to start the Sevens World Series."
The event will take place on December 3-5 at The Sevens stadium on the Dubai-Al Ain road.
tbrooks@thenational.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young