BlitzBokke up against Dubai champs

Host South Africa were placed in a tough pool for the Port Elizabeth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, following the official tournament draw.

Round Three of the Sevens World Series takes place on Saturday (December 8) and Sunday (December 9), at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in PE.

The Springboks, who failed to make the Cup competition for the first in more than a decade at this past weekend's Round Two, will face Dubai winners Samoa, France and Australia in Pool A.

It will be a very competitive race for the two group qualification spots on offer and passage to the Cup quarterfinals.

New Zealand, the defending champions in PE, who lost to Samoa in the Dubai Final, are the top-ranked side in Pool B which also include Fiji, Scotland England.

Kenya head Pool C and were drawn alongside Wales, Argentina and Spain.

Dubai surprise package Portugal, Canada, the United States and Zimbabwe complete the final grouping in Pool D.

New Zealand currently lead the World Series standings on 38 points after two rounds, followed by Fiji, Kenya, Samoa (all on 32), France (27) and South Africa (24).

The confirmed pools for the PE Sevens:

Pool A: Samoa, France, South Africa, Australia

Pool B: New Zealand, Fiji, Scotland, England

Pool C: Kenya, Wales, Argentina, Spain

Pool D: Portugal, Canada, United Stated, Zimbabwe

* Look back at the Dubai leg!