The USA is in Pool A of the first tournament in the Women's Sevens World Series, which begins December 4 in Dubai.

 

The Eagles join reigning champions New Zealand, Russia, and China in the pool.

 

This season the standings are more important than ever, as the top four nations will gain automatic qualification to the 2016 Olympics.

 

The Eagles will have their work cut out for them, as they finished 7th last year, behind New Zealand, Australia, Canada, England, Russia, and Spain.

 

Australia ran New Zealand extremely close last season, with the series coming down to the wire at the last round in Amsterdam in May. Tim Walsh’s team are drawn in Pool B with Spain, France and South Africa.

 

Pool C is made up of Canada and England, who will be buoyed by their Fifteens players performances at this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, along with Fiji, who join as a core team this season, and Olympic Games' hosts Brazil.

 

The third IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, which kicks off in Dubai, has been extended to six tournaments this year, following the success of the previous two seasons. The USA hosts Leg #3 March 14-15, in Atlanta, Ga., and Canada hosts the fourth round April 18-19 in Langford, BC.

 

IRB Sevens General Manager Avan Lee said: "Women’s Sevens has never been bigger and this season is very important for the series and also for the growth of the Game."

 

"With four qualification places to the Olympic Games 2016 on offer, the competitiveness and intensity of women’s Sevens is on the increase. I am confident that we will see some outstanding Rugby in this season's expanded IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, which is a reflection of the ever increasing popularity of the women’s Game."