Rugby (File)

Johannesburg - The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced on Thursday the six invited teams, which will take their place alongside the core sides for the inaugural leg of the first ever IRB Women's Sevens World Series (WSWS).

The series, which kicks off in Dubai on November 30-December 1, is set to take place in four global destinations, underscoring the IRB's commitment to the ongoing growth and development of Women's Rugby around the world.

It is expected that the series will grow in future years with an eye on the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil, China, France, Russia, Spain and South Africa will join core teams Australia, Canada, England, Netherlands, New Zealand and USA at the historic first event, which will run parallel to the men’s version at the Sevens ground in Dubai.

The WSWS will then split off from the men’s series as it forges its own following and identity, with later rounds taking place in USA (Houston), China (Guangzhou) and Netherlands (Amsterdam).

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “With an eye on Rio 2016, we are determined to continue to enhance the women’s game so that the competition is the very best that it can be.

"The quality of women’s Rugby Sevens has been improving dramatically in recent seasons and we expect that the Women’s Sevens World Series will push that standard even higher.”