Favourites South Africa hit the ground running as the World Rugby Sevens Series got underway in Dubai ©Getty Images

South Africa’s men lived up to their position as favourites as they made a perfect start on the opening day in Dubai as the new HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series campaign began.

The Blitzboks, who are aiming for a fifth Series title this season, showed their class in wins over Ireland, Japan and Britain that set up a quarter-final against third seeds Australia at the purpose-built Sevens Stadium.

Not to be outdone, a Fijian side featuring just two players from the squad that won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics defeated France and Canada before scoring a match-winning try in the final play of the game to take top spot off Australia.

New Zealand’s men’s and women’s teams, winners of their respective Series titles in 2020, are unable to participate due to COVID-19 travel complications, but there was no shortage of quality on show in Dubai ahead of a huge year for the sport, with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town coming up in 2022.

Argentina’s men went unbeaten to top Pool B and earn a place in a quarter-final line-up that was completed by Australia, the United States, Britain, Ireland and Kenya.

Britain and Australia both won back-to-back matches to get off to a flyer in the women’s event, but both of the five-team pools remain wide open ahead of their completion tomorrow.