Sevens rugby has a pretty low reputation in the UK - its not "real" rugby, and is still largely seen as a bit of end-of-season fun. However, most of the rest of the world (and especially the women's rugby world) rather disagrees.
This year's Six Nations is the first stage of the qualification process for next year's 15-a-side World Cup in England. Over the next few months about 25 teams from across the world will be competing for the 12 places available in the tournament.
In contrast SEVENTY nations took part in qualifying tournaments for next week's tournament - 33 from Europe alone - with 16 teams making it through. As far as most women in most rugby playing world are concerned Sevens is rugby, and Dubai 2009 is the main event. England 2010 will be merely an interesting curiosity.
One result of this is that many nations who might not usually associate with rugby are significant rugby powers when it comes to Sevens. From the Six Nations, only three qualified for Dubai - England, France and Italy - the other three European places going to Russia, Netherlands and Spain. And no-one was surprised.
The Asian qualifier resulted in similarly "unusual" names - Japan, Thailand and China - making it through at the expense of Asia's traditional "giant", Kazakhstan. And in the Pacific the qualifier was won by Australia... ahead of New Zealand.
And it will be Australia who will open the competition, with a game against China in the main stadium (most of the women's games prior to the semi-finals will be on the second pitch as apparently there is a men's tournament taking place at the same time).
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