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With the tournament now less than a month away the match schedule for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, kicking off on March 5, has been announced.

With 24 men's teams and 16 women's sides set to compete at the tournament there will be a total of 98 matches played over three days on back-to-back pitches at The Sevens Stadium.

"The announcement of the match schedule marks another significant landmark in the countdown to the world's biggest festival of international Sevens Rugby. Supporters at the magnificent The Sevens venue will be treated to a three-day festival of world class Rugby Sevens and a welcoming festival atmosphere," said Rugby World Cup Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

The tournament kicks off with Wales v Zimbabwe at 17.00 local time on March 5.

2009 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens schedule:

Pools: (Men)

Pool A: New Zealand, Tonga, Arabian Gulf, Italy

Pool B: Fiji, France, USA, Georgia

Pool C: South Africa, Scotland, Canada, Japan

Pool D: Samoa, Australia, Portugal, Ireland

Pool E: England, Kenya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe

Pool F: Argentina, Wales, Zimbabwe, Uruguay

World Cup Sevens Schedule, Dubai: (Men)

Day One: (GMT minus 4)

1 17:00 Wales v Zimbabwe

2 17:10 Kenya v Tunisia

3 17:22 Australia v Portugal

4 17:32 Scotland v Canada

5 17:44 France v USA

6 17:52 Tonga v Arabian Gulf

7 18:06 Samoa v Ireland

8 18:16 Argentina v Uruguay

9 19:30 England v Hong Kong

10 19:54 New Zealand v Italy

11 20:16 Fiji v Georgia

12 20:38 South Africa v Japan

Day Two:

13 11:00 New Zealand v Arabian Gulf

14 11:22 England v Tunisia

15 11:44 Samoa v Portugal

16 12:06 South Africa v Canada

17 12:28 Argentina v Zimbabwe

18 12:50 Fiji v USA

19 13:12 Kenya v Hong Kong

20 13:34 Tonga v Italy

21 13:56 Wales v Uruguay

22 14:18 Scotland v Japan

23 14:40 Australia v Ireland

24 15:02 France v Georgia

25 15:24 Zimbabwe v Uruguay

26 15:46 Canada v Japan

27 16:08 Tunisia v Hong Kong

28 16:30 Arabian Gulf v Italy

29 16:52 Portugal v Ireland

30 17:14 USA v Georgia

31 17:36 Argentina v Wales

32 17:58 South Africa v Scotland

33 18:20 Fiji v France

34 18:44 Samoa v Australia

35 19:06 England v Kenya

36 19:28 New Zealand v Tonga

Day Three:

37 10:30 Bowl - Quarter-final

38 10:52 Bowl - Quarter-final

39 11:14 Bowl - Quarter-final

40 11:36 Bowl - Quarter-final

41 11:58 Plate - Quarter-final

42 12:20 Plate - Quarter-final

43 12:42 Plate - Quarter-final

44 13:06 Plate - Quarter-final

45 13:28 Cup - Quarter-final

46 13:50 Cup - Quarter-final

47 14:12 Cup - Quarter-final

48 14:34 Cup - Quarter-final

49 14:56 Bowl - Semi-final

50 15:18 Bowl - Semi-final

51 15:40 Plate - Semi-final

52 16:02 Plate - Semi-final

53 17:08 Cup - Semi-final

54 17:30 Cup - Semi-final

55 18:30 Bowl Final

56 19:30 Plate Final

57 20:35 Cup Final