Australian Sevens coach Michael O’Connor admits the hosts have been handed a challenging assignment at the three-day Adelaide Sevens on 3-5 April, the sixth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.

A week after taking on New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in pool play at the famous Hong Kong Sevens, O’Connor’s side will face England as well as Samoa and Portugal at the Adelaide Oval.

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England currently lead the World Series standings alongside South Africa, while both Samoa and Portugal also lie ahead of Australia at the midway stage in the season.

To emphasise the competitive nature of international Sevens, the Samoans are eighth on the ladder but reached the semi finals at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai, where they lost 19-12 to eventual champions Wales. Australia, meanwhile, lost to Scotland 21-17 in the final of the Plate competition.

O’Connor confident on home soil

“We look forward to Adelaide, and to performing in front of our home crowd,” said former dual international O’Connor.

“England has obviously been a form side in the World Series and Samoa has been a difficult side for us over a number of years.

“However, if there is one tournament you like to target in a season it is the one where you have the opportunity to play on home soil. We’re confident of a very good showing.

“A number of our players have shown terrific development through the course of the season, remembering that at the start of the Sevens circuit we hardly had anyone with experience at this level.”

 

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New look event: Friday night entertainment

For the first time this year, the Adelaide Sevens will kick off on the Friday night.

The full match schedule for the new-look three-day competition will be announced on 12 March.

While the Australians have been drawn in Pool A, newly-crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales are in Pool C with New Zealand, USA and Tonga.

Argentina, runners-up to Wales in Dubai, head up Pool B with Fiji, France and Scotland, while defending Adelaide champions South Africa are in Pool D with RWC Sevens semi finalists Kenya, Cook Islands and Japan.

Tickets still available

Details on ticketing and corporate hospitality packages can be found at www.adelaidesevens.com.au.

Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketek or by calling 132 849.