The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that the USA will play in all eight events of the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series.
The new season, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Series, offers the USA a first outing as a core team, having replaced Canada to join the other ever-presents on the Series: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Wales and reigning champions New Zealand.
"Being able to grant USA Sevens core team status is testament to the growth of rugby that is taking place in their country following strong performances in the tournaments they have participated in over the last couple of years," said IRB Sevens World Series Manager Beth Coalter.
"Now they will be aiming to build further on their success and move up the Sevens rankings to put more pressure on the other core teams."
At each tournament four additional Unions will be invited to compete alongside the twelve core teams, except in Hong Kong, where 12 extra teams are invited to participate in the larger 24-team, three-day format.
The additional countries qualify for invitation by competing in satellite Sevens tournaments that run in each of the continents alongside the IRB Sevens World Series, a structure that allows each rugby playing nation the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage, while adding to the unique global flavour of international Sevens.
The IRB Sevens World Series' 10th anniversary season follows the successful format of packing the tournaments into pairs. Dubai (United Arab Emirates) will kick off the celebrations on November 28-29 at Emirates Airline's new purpose-built 'The Sevens' venue, which will also host 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in March.
The next tournament leg held in George (South Africa) follows on 5-6 December.
The second pair of tournaments are in February, Wellington hosting the New Zealand leg on February 6-7 and San Diego staging the USA event on 14-15 February.
The famous Hong Kong Sevens takes place over three days on March 27-29, ahead of the third Adelaide Sevens in Australia on April 4-5.
The Series will again draw to a climax in Europe at the end of May, Twickenham staging the London leg on May 23-24 and Murrayfield providing a fitting finale in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 30-31 .
The IRB Sevens World Series, along with the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens, is an integral part of the promotion of Sevens Rugby to the world's sporting community, including the International Olympic Committee as the IRB continues its campaign to have rugby re-introduced into the Olympic Games.
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