2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series normal 16 teams) was spread out over a three-day period. The series' tournaments are identical to 2007–2008 and span the globe: The 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens was not a part of the 2008-09 series. Unlike the 2005 edition held in Hong Kong, the 2009 edition did not replace one of the 2008-09 series events. The World Cup was held in Dubai from March 5–7, 2009 and won by Wales. Prior to the season, the IRB announced the 12 "core teams" that would receive guaranteed berths in each event in the 2008–09 series: The one new core team was the
2009 Carlton Rugby 7's the New Zealand Legends by 14-5 whilst the Australian Legends recorded a 24-5 win over Papua New Guinea in the fifth place play-off. 2009 Carlton Rugby 7's The 2009 Carlton Rugby 7's, had previously been conducted as the Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's competition but was rebranded as the Carlton Sri Lanka Rugby 7s under a new partnership between the Tharunyata Hetak Foundation and the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). The tournament was the sixth and final leg of the Asian Sevens Series for the year. The Carlton 7's were held on 27–29 November 2008 at Sugathadasa Stadium