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YEAR IN REVIEW 2015 WORLD RUGBY 53ABOVEFans can enjoy the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in five new destinationsAllen, CEO, DHL Express. “We’re delighted to extend our support for the international game on an annual basis, taking our delivery of rugby to new and existing fans across the globe beyond the four-year cycle of the Rugby World Cup, and helping nurture interest in, and a love for, the sport among fresh enthusiasts and potential stars of the future.”The new series is expected to increase on last season’s record broadcast numbers, which included 5,884 hours of airtime to an estimated 400 million homes in 144 nations in 12 different languages. In addition to the live output, World Rugby’s official sevens highlights programme is set to air on some new free-to-air broadcasters, ITV4 showing highlights in the UK for the first time with deals pending in further territories.Following on from the record-breaking success of Rugby World Cup 2015’s digital platforms, World Rugby will again complement its traditional broadcast offering with a comprehensive digital offering, allowing fans around the world to follow and engage with the sport and the series more than ever before on its website and social media channels, all now in English, French and Spanish. In addition to live news, results and statistics, dedicated online highlights and feature content are available in a new ‘video hub’, bringing fans closer to the players and the action and also enabling them to tailor their own action sequences and watch full matches back, depending on their choice of team. Bold new changes for the most exciting season ever.HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES 2015-16Round 1: Dubai – 4-5 DecemberRound 2: Cape Town – 12-13 DecemberRound 3: Wellington – 30-31 JanuaryRound 4: Sydney – 6-7 FebruaryRound 5: Las Vegas – 4-6 MarchRound 6: Vancouver – 12-13 MarchRound 7: Hong Kong – 8-10 AprilRound 8: Singapore – 16-17 AprilRound 9: Paris – 13-15 MayRound 10: London – 21-22 MayHSBC WORLD RUGBY WOMEN’S SEVENS
SERIES 2015-16 Round 1: Dubai – 3-4 DecemberRound 2: Sao Paulo – 20-21 FebruaryRound 3: Atlanta – 8-9 AprilRound 4: Langford – 16-17 AprilRound 5: Clermont-Ferrand – 28-29 May SEVENS PREVIEW | WORLD IN UNION