For all the disruption that is taking place in rugby’s abridged format, the 2025 Dubai Sevens provided a throwback to the good old days as New Zealand claimed the title on Saturday night.
The winds of change are whistling through sevens with gathering pace, and this tournament was the first of World Rugby’s latest vision for the circuit.
Not everyone is enamoured with a brave new world in which tournaments are limited to just eight teams in the men’s and women’s series. Back when New Zealand were the dominant force in the format, there were double that.
No matter what the future is going to look like, one of the sport’s most established nations found itself back on top of the podium, as New Zealand beat Australia 26-22.
It was a reminder of a long time past. After the world sevens series first began in Dubai in 1999, New Zealand won the first four titles, and six of the first 11. And yet the desert has proved fallow territory for the time since.
Their title success in 2018 was their sole success in 16 years – before this weekend.
They were good value for it, as they beat their closest rivals in the final. Australia went ahead at the start, as Maurice Longbottom pounced to score the opener.
Crucially, though, Australia’s influential half-back was immediately forced off through injury after aggravating a leg injury as he crossed to score.
New Zealand were emboldened, and they were 12-5 up at half-ti
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