One final party in Paris

Juries, Cora vie for an all-time record

New Zealand may already have sealed their sixth International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series title in London last week, but there is time for one more party before the season draws to a close.

Sixteen teams, which include all the world's top Sevens stars, will gather at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Friday and Saturday for the final event in the 2004/05 IRB Sevens series.

The Kiwis clinched their sixth consecutive IRB title despite losing to eventual London winners South Africa in the semi-finals.

Now Gordon Tietjens' men are out to crown their domination of the past sixth years with a successful defence of the French sevens title, which they won in Bordeaux last year.

"I'm very proud of my players over the whole season," Tietjens said, looking ahead to this week's event in Paris.. "These tournaments are very hard to win and to have won four in a row was a great achievement. Consistency is the name of the game in Sevens and we've performed consistently well.

"Losing in the London semis was a shame as it took the gloss off the series win, but you have to give credit to South Africa, who really came at us in the first half and scored 28 points. Again, I'd give credit to my players for coming back and scoring 26 points of their own and in the end it was the try they scored just after the break that took them out too far."

All Black wing sensation Joe Rokocoko again lines up for New Zealand, while French hopes of dazzling the home Stade Jean-Bouin crowd are boosted by the inclusion of Toulouse and France flyer Vincent Clerc, in the squad for the first time.

New Zealand face Samoa, Kenya and Italy in Pool A, while second seeds England take on Scotland, Canada and Portugal in Pool B.

However, it is in the remaining two pools that two special talents vie for an all-time achievement honour in an intriguing sub-plot to the tournament.

London champions South Africa face Fiji, Tunisia and Georgia in Pool C, with Fabian Juries just one try short of retired New Zealand great Karl Te Nana's all-time try-scoring feat of 114 in IRB Sevens rugby.

In pool D, meanwhile, Argentina's Santiago Gomez Cora is himself just one try behind Juries on 112 as the Pumas line up against Australia, France and Russia. Whoever passes Te Nana's mark first has one landmark to savour. Who finishes the season on top will possess another.

The South African captain, Jaco Pretorius, was full of praise for Juries.

"The man is awesome - such a talented player," Pretorius said. "Being only one try behind Karl Te Nana's all time try-scoring record is quite an achievement, with obviously every chance of passing him here. I don't think it's even in his mind. He's such a great team player that he's just as likely to give the final pass for an easier conversion. I'm very proud about Fabo, as is the whole of South Africa. He's a key player in our side."

Pretorius said his team had already put London behind them and are aiming at back-to-back titles for the first time.

"It was a great feeling winning in Twickenham, a great honour to win there in front of the English, and we thoroughly enjoyed that victory. But we have a 24 hour rule where we're number one for a day and then we get back down to basics again.

"We've had some good training sessions and we're taking all the confidence and the positive vibes out of that tournament."

The 2004/05 series has broken all records in terms of TV broadcasting and attendance across the six tournaments played so far in Dubai, George, Wellington, Los Angeles, Singapore and London.

The continued global growth and appeal of Sevens rugby has been highlighted in the past year by the involvement of 32 countries in the 2004/05 IRB Sevens, and the fact that 86 teams competed in the 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup - which culminated with the Finals in Hong Kong in March.

The World Cup was played in front of a cumulative audience of 120,000 people who witnessed Fiji being crowned World Champions.

These figures are a boost for the International Rugby Board as it continues to champion for rugby's return to the Olympic Games. In July the IOC will take a vote on whether to change the sporting programme for the 2012 Olympic Games. Sevens Rugby is on a short list of sports being considered for possible inclusion in those Games.

Pools and fixtures (kick-off times are local - GMT +2): 
 
Pool A: New Zealand, Samoa, Kenya, Italy

Fixtures:
Match 7 - 14.12: New Zealand v Kenya 
Match 8 - 14.34: Samoa  v Italy 
Match 15 - 17.08: New Zealand v Italy 
Match 16 - 17.30: Samoa  v Kenya 
Match 20 - 18.58: Kenya v Italy 
Match 24 - 21.06: New Zealand v Samoa 

Pool B: England, Scotland, Canada, Portugal

Fixtures:
Match 5 - 13.28: England v Canada 
Match 6 - 13.50: Scotland v Portugal 
Match 13 - 16.24: England v Portugal 
Match 14 - 16.46: Scotland v Canada 
Match 19 - 18.36: Canada v Portugal 
Match 23 - 20.44: England v Scotland 

Pool C: Fiji, South Africa, Tunisia, Georgia

Fixtures:
Match 3 - 12.44: Fiji v Tunisia 
Match 4 - 13.06: South Africa v Georgia 
Match 11 - 15.40: Fiji v Georgia 
Match 12 - 16.02: South Africa v Tunisia 
Match 18 - 18.14: Tunisia v Georgia 
Match 22 - 20.22: Fiji v South Africa 

Pool D: Argentina, Australia, France, Russia

Fixtures:
Match 1 - 12.00: Argentina v France 
Match 2 - 12.22: Australia v Russia 
Match 9 - 14.56: Argentina v Russia 
Match 10 - 15.18: Australia v France 
Match 17 - 17.52: France v Russia 
Match 21 - 20.00: Argentina v Australia